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Washington  Park 


ARBORETUM  BULLETIN 


Published  by  The  Arboretum  Foundation 

for  the  University  of  Washington 

Volume  54,  No.  1,  Spring  1991  ($2^50^) 


Center  for  Urban  Horticulture 

Harold  B.  Tukey,  Jr.,  Ph.D. 

Director  of  Arboreta 
Brian  O.  Mulligan 
Director  Emeritus 
The  Washington  Park  Arboretum 
Timothy  Hohn 
Curator,  Plant  Collections 
John  A.  Wott,  Ph.D. 

Professor 

Continuing  Education 
Lynda  J.  Ransley 
Coordinator 

Officers  of 

The  Arboretum  Foundation 

Richard  Doss 
President 
Carol  Simons 
First  Vice-President 
Tina  Kuhnle 
Second  Vice-President 
Mary  Booth 
Third  Vice-President 
Alan  Adams,  D.D.S. 

Fourth  Vice-President 
Jeannine  Curry 
Secretary 
Keith  Patrick 
Treasurer 

Elizabeth  Ayrault  Moses 
Immediate  Past  President 
Rae  Tennyson 
Executive  Secretary 
Rita  Lambro 
Bookkeeper 

Editorial  Board  of  the 
Arboretum  Bulletin 

Jan  M.  Silver 
Editor 

Van  M.  Bobbitt 
Mary  Booth 
Joyce  Brewster 
Jerry  Clark 

Jeannine  Curry,  Secretary 
Valerie  Easton 

Book  Review  Editor 
Kendall  W.  Gambrill 
Daniel  Hinkley 
Timothy  Hohn 
Steven  R.  Lorton 
Virginia  Morell 
Brian  O.  Mulligan,  Taxonomy 
Matsuo  Tsukada,  Ph.D. 

Harold  B.  Tukey,  Jr.,  Ph.D. 

Richard  Walker,  Ph.D. 


Advertising  Director 

Susie  Marglin  (206)  325-4510 


Concerning  This  Issue . . . 

Spring  means  the  sprouting  of  flowers  and  “For  Sale’  ’ 
signs.  How  does  your  garden  sell?  Find  out  in  Valerie 
Easton’s  survey  of  what  appraisers,  Realtors,  and  buyers 
look  for  in  a home  landscape. 

What  to  look  for  in  the  Arboretum  is  suggested  to  new- 
comers and  long-time  members  by  program  coordinator 
Lynda  Ransley.  Then,  read  Timothy  Hohn’s  description 
of  the  Arboretum  in  winter  and  his  article  on  Nothofagus 
antarctica  ‘Puget  Pillar’,  so  you  will  have  other  destina- 
tions within  the  Arboretum.  However,  if  you  find  purple 
loosestrife,  growing  in  the  Foster  Island  marsh  area  and 
other  areas  throughout  Washington  State,  you’ll  need  to 
know  what  to  do.  Kristina  G.H.  Lau  and  Estella  B.  Leo- 
pold offer  the  natural  history  and  suggest  action  to  take  on 
this  ‘ ‘purple  horror. ’ ’ 

Daniel  Hinkley  either  extends  the  possibilities  for 
winter  color  or  gets  a jump  on  spring  in  his  article.  He 
describes  the  plant  potential  for  the  forgotten  color 
months  of  mid- winter — February  and  March. 

‘ ‘Can’t  see  the  forest  for  the  herbs?’  ’ In  the  last  issue  of 
the  Bulletin  we  investigated  a drought-tolerant  herb  gar- 
den. This  time,  Mary  Booth  leads  us  around  the  woody 
plants  forming  the  backbone  of  the  University  of  Washing- 
ton’s Medicinal  Herb  Garden. 

‘ ‘Key  plants’  ’ can  be  identified  and  monitored  in  your 
garden  to  minimize  use  of  chemicals.  Van  M.  Bobbitt 
takes  last  issue’s  article  on  integrated  pest  management 
one  step  further  in  this  season’s  Northwest  Hort  Review. 
Valerie  Easton  reviews  books  on  natural  gardens,  and  two 
important  new  books  are  reviewed  by  James  R.  Clark  and 
Brian  Mulligan. 

Holding  on  to  the  old  Bulletins , meaning  to  take  some 
of  those  wonderful  walks?  “Eight  Big  Trees  at  the  Uni- 
versity of  Washington’  ’ leads  you  into  this  issue’s  destina- 
tion garden  (volume  52,  number  2).  Also  on  the  Univer- 
sity campus  is  a tour  of  trees  planted  by  Edmond  Meany 
earlier  in  the  century  (volume  53,  number  1).  Or  heed  the 
advice  of  Lynda  Ransley ’s  article,  and  find  your  own  path- 
way in  the  Washington  Park  Arboretum. 

Jan  Silver,  Editor 
The  Washington  Park  Arboretum  Bulletin 


Cover:  Stachyurus  praecox  by  Tamara  Lee  Knight,  created  for 
Daniel  Hinkley ’s  ankle  (p . 14)  in  this  issue  of  the  Washington 
Park  Arboretum  Bulletin.  The  framed  original  is  for  sale  in 
the  Arboretum’s  Gift  Shop,  Graham  Visitors  Center.  For 
commissions,  call  Tamara  at  (206)  481-5783.  The  careers  of 
other  pankipants  in  the  Nonhwest’s  renaissance  of  honkultural 
an  will  be  highlighted  in  future  issues. 


Printed  on  recycled  gloss  coated  paper  (minimum  50%  waste  paper). 


CONTENTS 


2 How  Does  Your  Garden  Sell?  by  Valerie  Easton 

5 Discovering  the  Washington  Park  Arboretum  by  Lynda  J.  Ransley 

9 Purple  Loosestrife  Threatens  Washington  Wetlands 

by  Kristina  G.H.  Lau  and  Estella  B.  Leopold 


1 2 . Nothofagus  antarctica  ‘Puget  Pillar’ : A Trim  New  Introduction  by  Timothy  Hohn 

14 Late  Winter,  Early  Spring  Color  by  Daniel  J.  Hinkley 

17  ...  The  Northwest  Garden  Explorer:  Woody  Plants  of  the  Medicinal  Herb  Garden 


by  Mary  Booth 

22 Northwest  Hort  Review:  The  “Key  Plant”  Concept 

by  Van  M.  Bobbitt 

24  In  the  Washington  Park  Arboretum  by  Timothy  Hohn 

Book  Reviews: 

25  The  Simple  Act  of  Planting  a Tree  reviewed  by  James  R.  Clark 

25  Westonbirt:  The  Forestry  Commission  's  Finest  Arboretum 

reviewed  by  Brian  Mulligan 

26  New  on  the  Shelves  of  the  Elisabeth  C.  Miller  Library  by  Valerie  Easton 

27  For  Further  Information:  Birds,  Bees,  Bats,  and  Butterflies  by  Valerie  Easton 


Background  photo:  Cornus  nuttallii,  by  E.F.  Marten,  courtesy  of  Center  for 
Urban  Horticulture.  “Key  plant”  pest  control  information  for  dogwoods  and 

other  species,  page  22. 


The  Washington  Park  Arboretum  Bulletin  is  published  quarterly,  as  a bonus  of  membership  in  The  Arboretum 
Foundation.  The  Arboretum  Foundation  is  a non-profit  organization  that  was  chartered  to  further  the  development  of 
the  Washington  Park  Arboretum,  its  projects  and  programs,  by  means  of  volunteer  service  and  fund-raising  projects. 
The  Washington  Park  Arboretum  is  administered  through  cooperative  efforts  between  the  University  of  Washington, 
the  Center  for  Urban  Horticulture,  and  the  City  of  Seattle  Department  of  Parks  and  Recreation.  The  programs  and 
plant  collections  are  a responsibility  of  the  Center  for  Urban  Horticulture. 

For  membership  information,  write  to  The  Arboretum  Foundation,  University  of  Washington  (XD-10),  Seattle, 
WA  98195  or  call  (206)  325-4510.  Articles  on  gardening  and  horticulturally  related  subjects  are  welcome.  Please 
call  for  guidelines.  For  permission  to  reprint  any  part  of  the  Arboretum  Bulletin,  please  contact  the  Arboretum  Foun- 
dation for  written  permission.  © 1991  The  Arboretum  Foundation. 

For  information  about  the  activities  of  The  Arboretum  Foundation,  call  (206)  325-4510.  To  receive  information 
about  public  programs  and  lectures  of  the  Center  for  Urban  Horticulture,  please  call  (206)  543-8800  or  545-8033. 


How  Does  Your 
Garden  Sell? 

by  Valerie  Easton 

CC  T>  lants  are  like  wallpaper — just  personal 
JL  preference,”  explains  Paula  Ranson, 
Seattle  residential  real  estate  appraiser  with  The 
Appraisal  Group,  in  an  attempt  to  explain  how  little 
notice  appraisers  take  of  individual  plants.  Ranson 
doesn’t  care  if  that  beautifully  sited  specimen  tree  is 
a Douglas-fir  or  a winter-flowering  cherry  whose 
blooms  cheer  a dark  February  day,  or  whether  a 
hedge  is  of  carefully  nurtured  Escallonia  or  the  most 
common  English  laurel. 

The  Value  of  Landscaping 

In  valuing  property,  Paula  Ranson  looks  first  to 
see  if  a tree  or  shrub  is  doing  what  it  is  supposed  to 
do:  Does  it  provide  shade  or  privacy,  help  prevent 
run-off,  or  retain  a slope?  A landscape  can  detract 
from  a property’s  value  if  an  appraiser  sees  flaws 
that  need  fixing.  But  the  avid  gardener  might  ask 
about  the  value  of  expensive  special  landscape  fea- 
tures like  ponds,  walkways,  or  a long  flowering 
perennial  border. 

Ranson  agrees 
that  a land- 
scape is  a 
major  invest- 
ment, but  most 
importandy  in 
terms  of  its  utili- 
ty to  the  site 
and  in  how  it 
conforms  to  the  neigh- 
borhood. She  once  appraised  a house  in  an  upscale 
Seatde  neighborhood  whose  owners  had  spent 
$100,000  on  their  landscape  and  were  hoping  to 
see  some  of  that  reflected  in  their  property’s  ap- 
praised value.  To  her  eye,  all  the  owner  had  done 
was  bring  the  landscape  up  to  the  level  of  the  sur- 
rounding properties.  She  noted  that  in  California 
where  trees  are  less  plentiful,  dollar  amounts  for 
certain  species  are  related  to  market  value.  How- 
ever, in  the  Pacific  Northwest,  not  much  attention 
is  paid  unless  the  landscaping  does  not  conform  to 
surrounding  properties  in  quality  and  style. 

For  the  enthusiastic  gardener  who  knows  both 
the  cost  of  plants  and  the  time  it  takes  to  develop  a 
mature  landscape,  landscape  value  can  be  depress- 


ing financial  news. 

Conforming  to 
neighborhood 
gardens  is 
not 

usually 
one  of  a 
gardener’s  top 
goals.  Neither  is  ap- 
propriateness, consis- 
tency, or — often — 
low  maintenance. 

However,  Bob  Rothstein,  another  Seattle  real  estate 
appraiser,  looks  for  low  maintenance  when  valuing 
landscapes.  “The  three  major  ways  to  enhance  the 
value  of  a property  are  through  improvements  to 
the  kitchen,  bath,  and  landscape,”  says  Rothstein. 
In  the  landscape,  due  to  the  demographics  of  the 
market  and  the  direction  of  urban  and  suburban  liv- 
ing, he  feels  that  lower  maintenance  is  the  most 
valuable  attribute.  When  appraising  a residential 
property,  Rothstein  says  he  also  notices  ‘ ‘quality  of 
design,  hardiness  of  plantings,  and  decks  and  patios 
appropriate  to  the  house.” 

It  would  be  so  convenient  for  the  gardener  if  there 
were  a set  formula,  a rule  of  thumb  for  landscape 
components  like  there  is  for  house  improvements. 
Perhaps  gardeners  could  expect  to  get  their  money 
back  out  of  hedges  and  ponds,  as  they  could  in  add- 
ing a bathroom  to  their  home,  or  know  they  are  in- 
creasing the  value  of  their  house  by  a certain  per- 
centage when  they  install  a patio,  as  they  would 
with  kitchen  improvements. 

However,  according  to  Bob  Rothstein,  there  is  no 
such  set  formula  for  dollar  value  of  landscape  fea- 
tures. In  fact,  on  an  appraisal  report  there  is  no  line 
item  with  specific  dollar  value  assignments  for 
landscaping.  In  a national  survey  of  appraisers,  it 
was  reported  that  an  appraiser  would  have  to  make 
special  considerations  and  notes  on  the  standardized 
survey  form  if  value  is  placed  on  landscaping 
(Weyerhaeuser  1986:  18). 


Insured  Value  Isn’t  Appraised  Value 

On  the  other  hand,  there  are  well-accepted  ways 
of  determining  the  value  of  individual  plants  for  in- 
stances of  loss,  negligence,  or  liability  for  tax  or  in- 
surance purposes;  these  figures  can  be  high,  with 
appraisals  of  mature  shade  trees  usually  in  four  or 
five  figures  ( American  Horticulturist  1989).  More 
information  on  the  whys  and  hows  of  valuing  indi- 
vidual plants  is  available  in  the  booklet  by  the  Inter- 
national Society  of  Arboriculture,  The  Valuation  of 


2 


Washington  Park  Arboretum  Bulletin 


Landscape  Trees,  Shrubs,  and  Other  Plants  (Neely 
1988).  Whereas  these  industry-set  values  on  indi- 
vidual plants  obviously  are  not  accepted  market 
value,  it  is  curious  that  they  do  not  at  least  translate 
into  a higher  perceived  value  for  landscaping  as  a 
whole  in  real-estate  transactions. 

Several  studies  have  been  undertaken  to  deter- 
mine the  value  of  landscaping  to  residential  proper- 
ties. In  one  such  study,  it  was  determined  that  tree 
cover  on  a residential  property  in  Manchester,  Con- 
necticut, added  $2,686  or  6%  of  the  total  price  to 
the  property  value  of  the  homes  observed  (Morales 
1980).  In  a suburb  of  Rochester,  New  York,  trees 
added  $9,500  (18%)  to  the  average  sale  price  of  a 
residence  (Dwyer  1984).  A Gallup  landscaping  sur- 
vey determined  that  home  buyers  on  the  average 
felt  that  landscaping 
added  14.8%  to 
the  value  or  sell- 
ing price  of 
their  home 
(Weyer- 
haeuser 
1986:  13). 

However, 
residential  real 
estate  appraisers  rate 
the  value  of  landscaping  at  only 
7.28%  of  the  total  property  value  (Weyerhaeuser 
1986:  20). 

What  do  all  of  these  sometimes  conflicting  num- 
bers and  opinions  mean  to  the  gardener  who  may 
want  to  sell  his  or  her  home?  Appraisers,  home 
owners,  and  Realtors  all  seem  to  agree  that  good 
landscaping  can  sell  a house  faster,  if  not  at  a higher 
price,  which  is  no  small  consideration  in  a buyer’s 
market.  If  Seattle’s  market  remains  as  competitive 
as  in  the  latter  half  of  1990  and  early  1991,  land- 
scaping could  be  the  edge  that  causes  a buyer  to 
choose  one  house  over  another. 

What  Buyers  Want 

But  what  is  it  about  the  landscaping  that  influ- 
ences potential  home  buyers?  Not  those  marvelous 
herbaceous  borders,  rock  gardens,  or  unusual  orna- 
mental grasses  so  dear  to  the  gardener’s  heart.  Ac- 
cording to  Kitty  Hughes  of  Seattle’s  Madison  House 
Realty,  a neat,  well-groomed,  low-maintenance  gar- 
den is  what  home  buyers  are  looking  for— “curb  ap- 
peal,” as  it  is  known  by  Realtors.  “Curb  appeal” 
means  that  a garden  gives  a home  presence,  “a 
warm  feeling,”  a good  first  impression.  “People 
understand  rhododendrons,”  says  Hughes,  and 


they  also  lik 
flowers  and 
color  in  the 
garden,  as 
well  as  plenty  of 
green.  People  in 
the  Northwest 
particularly  appre- 
ciate the  “out- 
door atmosphere’  ’ 
provided  by  decks  and 
patios.  A nice  lawn,  well 
trimmed, 

see  the  view  and  let  plenty  of  light  into  the  house  all 
are  favored  by  home  buyers.  Hughes  says  that  even 
if  a garden  is  large  and  somewhat  more  involved 
than  just  rhododendrons  and  lawn,  if  it  is  very  well 
maintained,  buyers  perceive  it  as  not  being  too  over- 
whelming. 

A study  in  West  Germany  showed  that  there  is  a 
40-fold  jump  in  maintenance  time  from  the  least 
labor-intensive  to  the  most  labor-intensive  vegeta- 
tion type  (Kiermeier  1989).  This  maintenance  fac- 
tor scares  a buyer  who  sees  a poorly  kept  garden  or 
overgrown  trees  and  shrubs.  It  is  not  the  individual 
garden  components  or  specific  plants,  but  the  over- 
all effect,  nearness,  the  “curb  appeal”  that  catches 
a buyer’s  interest.  Maria  Rippee,  a Windermere 
Realtor  and  herself  an  avid  gardener,  believes  that 
gardens  are  not  a priority  with  the  majority  of 
buyers,  and  estimates  that  only  5 % of  the  time  do 
her  clients  have  varying  degrees  of  gardening  inter- 
ests. She  agrees  with  Kitty  Hughes  that  low  main- 
tenance is  the  major  criteria  for  most  buyers.  How- 
ever, Ms.  Hughes  also  comments  that  a garden  can 
sell  a house.  She  has  seen  people  fall  in  love  with  the 
“aura  and  presence’  ’ of  the  yard  and  because  of  the 
garden  it  becomes  the  “house  of  their  dreams.” 

Preparing  the  Garden  for  Sale 

So,  what  can  the  gardener  do  to  best  take  advan- 
tage of  the  garden  when  putting  a house  up  for  sale? 


Vol.  54:1 /Spring  1991 


3 


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ANN  HERRON 
P.O.  BOX  69 
MEDINA  WA  98039 
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Forget  giving  plant  lists  to  your  Realtor,  or  waiting 
until  your  blue  poppies  are  in  bloom  before  you  list 
your  house.  Rather,  make  sure  that  rockeries, 
hedges,  trees,  and  other  landscape  features  are  effec- 
tively doing  the  jobs  they  are  meant  to  do:  protect- 
ing privacy,  retaining  slopes,  aiding  good  drainage. 
Mow,  trim,  sweep,  weed,  and  prune.  Even  if  you 
enjoy  a natural  looking  garden,  messiness  means 
high  upkeep  to  a buyer.  Remember  curb  ap- 
peal— the  first  impression  given  by  your  garden — 
and  add  flowers,  planters,  and  shrubs  accordingly. 
Don’t  over-improve  in  the  hope  of  boosting  sales 
value,  and  keep  the  quality  and  style  of  neighboring 
gardens  in  mind,  as  the  appraiser  surely  will  do. 

Perhaps  most  importantly,  don’t  expect  to  have 
your  time  and  dollar  investment  in  your  garden 
recovered  at  the  time  of  sale.  There  are  all  kinds  of 
good  reasons  to  garden,  although  the  market  value 
of  landscaping  in  real  estate  transactions  doesn’t 
seem  to  be  one  of  them.  Maria  Rippee  of  Winder- 
mere  remarked  that  the  landscaping  factor  in  prop- 
erty sales  is  hard  to  quantify,  being  so  subjective  and 
dependent  on  individual  aesthetics.  Therefore,  gar- 
deners may  as  well  follow  their  own  personal  aes- 
thetics— and  it  couldn’t  hurt  to  hang  a little  wall- 
paper, either. 


Valerie  Easton  is  a librarian  at  the  Elisabeth  C.  Miller 
Library,  University  of  Washington  Center  for  Urban 
Horticulture,  and  the  book  review  editor  for  the  Wash- 
ington Park  Arboretum  Bulletin.  Her  house  was  for  sale 
as  she  wrote  this  article;  it  sold  before  publication. 


References 

American  Horticulturist  News  Edition.  1989. 
American  Horticultural  Society.  68(7):  1 , July. 

Dwyer,  John  F.  1984.  “Looking  at  the  Economic 
Value  of  Urban  Plants.’’  American  Nurseryman 
159(12):  69,  June  15. 

Kiermeier,  P.  1989.  “Attention  Needed  by  Peren- 
nials in  Different  Habitats.”  Horticultural  Abstracts. 

Morales,  Dominic  J.  1980.  “The  Contribution  of 
Trees  to  Residential  Property  Value.”  The  Journal  of 
Arboriculture  6(11):  305,  November. 

Neely,  Dan.  1988.  Valuation  of  Landscape  Trees, 
Shrubs,  and  Other  Plants.  7th  ed.  Urbana,  IL:  Interna- 
tional Society  of  Arboriculture. 

Weyerhaeuser  Company.  The  Value  of  Landscaping. 
Tacoma,  WA:  Weyerhaeuser  Nursery  Productions  Div- 
ision, Campus  Center  Building,  6-B,  Tacoma,  WA 
98477. 


4 


Washington  Park  Arboretum  Bulletin 


Discovering  the 
Washington  Park 
Arboretum 

by  Lynda  J.  Ransley 

Whether  you  are  a visitor  to  the  Arboretum 
or  a long-time  Foundation  member ; 
Arboretum  exploration  awaits  you. 

Jf  you  posed  the  question,  ‘ ‘How  do  you  use  the 
Washington  Park  Arboretum?”  to  a sampling 
of  visitors,  you  likely  would  get  very  different  re- 
sponses, from  “It’s  the  best  fishing  spot  around 
Union  Bay’  ’ or  ‘ ‘My  cousin  was  married  there  last 
summer’  ’ to  “Our  plant  identification  class  has  its 
laboratories  there.  ’ ’ Depending  on  whom  you  ask,  the 
Arboretum  may  signify  a taxonomic  grouping  of 
plants,  an  urban  green  space,  a place  to  go  to  talk  with 
“plant”  people — or  any  number  of  other  things. 

On  the  back  of  this  (and  each)  Bulletin  is  a defini- 
tion of  arboretum  as  “a  living  museum  of  woody 
plants  for  education,  conservation,  research,  and 
display.”  Although  this  may  be  the  true  institu- 
tional definition,  its  practical  interpretation  will  dif- 
fer based  upon  each  visitor’s  interests,  past  ex- 
periences, and  immediate  needs. 

Perhaps  the  best  way  to  illustrate  the  opportuni- 
ties available  for  using  the  Arboretum  is  from  the 
perspective  of  a visitor  or  new  member.  Let  us  as- 
sume that  you  are  new  to  the  Seattle  area  and  are  in- 


A group  of  elementary  school  children  in  the  Saplings 
program  listens  to  volunteers.  The  Washington  Park 
ArboretumJs  Graham  Visitors  Center  is  in  the 
baclground.  (Below)  The  Washington  Park 
Arboretum  is  administered  by  the  Center  for  Urban 
Horticulture  (CUH).  CUH,  a few  miles  north , 
houses  the  library,  hortorium,  lectures,  and  classes. 


Center  for  Urban  Horticulture,  3501  NE  41st  St. , University 
of  Washington,  GF-15,  Seattle,  WA  98195  (206)  543-8616 

Washington  Park  Arboretum,  University  of  Washington, 
XD-10,  Seattle,  WA  98195  (206)  543-8800 


Vol.  54:1  /Spring  1991 


5 


Lynda  J.  Rans, 


Timothy  Hohn 


A typical  Arboretum  tap,  harping  from  Magnolia  x 
soulangiana  cSpeciosa\  The  first  digits  indicate  the 
order  in  which  the  magnolia  was  acquired  in  1952. 

The  second  two  digits  indicate  year  of  acquisition. 

terested  in  home  gardening.  You  recently  joined 
The  Arboretum  Foundation  wishing  to  support  the 
Arboretum,  share  your  interest  in  plants,  and  ex- 
pand your  knowledge  of  horticulture.  Logically, 
your  first  questions  would  be  about  what  you  can 
learn  from  the  Arboretum  and  how  you  can  begin 
to  understand  it. 

The  Layout  of  the  Arboretum 

The  Arboretum’s  200  acres  provide  a great  di- 
versity of  plants,  topography,  and  habitat.  The  col- 
lections encompass  over  5,500  different  types  of 
plants  displayed  to  illustrate  taxonomic  relation- 
ships, cultural  requirements,  biogeographic  similar- 
ities, and  landscape  characteristics. 

Before  exploring  the  collections,  it  is  helpful  to 
understand  the  layout  of  the  Arboretum.  Displays 
currently  are  arranged  by  taxonomic  relationship 
(e.g.,  oak  family,  mountain  ashes,  magnolias,  etc.), 
or  in  landscape  areas  (Woodland  Garden,  Rock  Gar- 
den, Winter  Garden).  Individual  plants  in  the  col- 
lections are  inventoried  by  a unique  accession  num- 
ber that  indicates  year  acquired  and  the  order  in 

Glossary 

Biogeography  studies  the  geographical  dis- 
tribution of  plants. 

Horticulture  is  the  science  and  art  of  grow- 
ing fruits,  vegetables,  flowers,  or  ornamental 
plants. 

Taxonomy  is  the  orderly  classification  of 
plants  and  animals  into  ranks  (e.g.,  genus, 
species,  variety,  etc.) 


which  it  was  received.  The  information  is  on  each 
green-and-white  or  metal  accession  label  hanging 
from  Arboretum  specimens.  An  example  is  Mag- 
nolia x soulangiana  ‘Speciosa’  in  the  photo:  57-52. 
The  first  digits  of  the  accession  label  indicate  the 
order  in  which  it  was  acquired  during  a specific 
year;  the  second  two  digits  are  that  year  of  acquisi- 
tion. Specimen  plants  also  may  have  large  display 
labels  that  include  both  common  and  scientific 
names,  nativity,  or  other  appropriate  information. 

Preferably,  start  your  Arboretum  exploration  at 
the  Graham  Visitors  Center,  open  daily  from  10 
a.m.  to  4 p.m.,  weekdays;  12  p.m.to  4 p.m.,  week- 
ends. The  Visitors  Center  is  the  hub  of  Arboretum 
activity  and  a source  of  information  and  guidance. 
Volunteers  are  on  hand  to  offer  you  the  information 
and  resources  you  need  to  make  the  most  of  your 
visit.  Also,  here  you  will  find  staff  offices,  The  Ar- 
boretum Foundation  office,  the  gift  shop,  rest 
rooms,  and  meeting  spaces. 

Typically,  you  will  head  to  the  lobby  information 
desk  and  talk  to  the  volunteer  on  duty.  The  volun- 
teers have  many  resources  available  to  assist  you, 
and  are  wonderful  sources  of  Arboretum  informa- 
tion and  history,  visit-planning  suggestions,  plant 
knowledge,  referrals  to  other  local  resources,  and 
personal  insight.  At  the  information  desk,  pick  up 
some  of  the  many  handouts  and  brochures  available 
to  help  introduce  you  to  the  Arboretum. 

You  May  Ask  for  These  Brochures: 

• Arboretum  trail  map 

• Bird  checklist 

• Trail  brochures  (Waterfront  trail,  Self-guided 
Walk,  Native  plant  walk,  Maple  trail,  Foster  Island 
ecology  walk,  etc.) 

• Maps  of  special  areas  (Signature  Bed  schematic; 
Joseph  A.  Witt  Winter  Garden) 

• Seasonal  interest  brochures  (including  annual 
highlights,  summer  strolls,  colors  of  fall) 

• Arboretum  Foundation  literature  (membership 
forms,  newsletter,  how  to  join  the  plant  study 
groups  or  units) 

• Information  on  other  nearby  gardens  of  interest, 
such  as  the  Japanese  Garden,  Volunteer  Park, 
Bloedel  Reserve,  Rhododendron  Species  Founda- 
tion, Lakewold,  etc. 

The  information  volunteers  have  a wealth  of 
references  on  hand  to  help  answer  your  questions  or 
direct  you  to  places  where  you  may  find  answers: 
horticultural  reference  books,  lists  of  local  plant 
societies,  schedules  for  upcoming  regional  horticul- 
tural events,  fact  sheets  on  other  area  gardens,  tele- 


6 


Washington  Park  Arboretum  Bulletin 


phone  numbers  of  resource  agencies,  and  lists  of 
books  available  in  the  library  at  the  Center  for  Ur- 
ban Horticulture  (CUH),  which  manages  the  Arbo- 
retum. There  is  also  an  excellent  gift  shop  in  the 
Visitors  Center  which  stocks  a diverse  selection  of 
horticultural  books  and  gifts. 

Throughout  the  year,  the  King  County  Master 
Gardeners  are  stationed  at  the  Visitors  Center  (from 
April  through  October,  Saturday  and  Sunday;  Oc- 
tober through  April,  Sunday).  They  can  answer 
your  specific  questions  about  gardening  techniques, 
plant  identification,  and  pest  and  disease  diagnosis. 
During  the  week,  you  may  reach  them  by  telephone 
on  their  information  hotline,  (206)  296-3440. 
Join  a Tour  or  Explore  on  Your  Own 

Would  you  like  a more  formal  introduction  to  the 
plant  collections?  Join  one  of  the  Arboretum’s 
volunteer  guides  on  a ‘ ‘Sunday  at  One’  ’ tour  which 
leaves  from  the  Visitors  Center  at  1:00  P.M.  These 
tours  vary  each  week,  depending  on  seasonal  inter- 
est and  the  guide’s  preference,  so  you  are  likely  to 
have  a different  experience  each  time. 

Once  you  become  more  familiar  with  the  collec- 
tions, join  the  Explorer’s  Walk  on  the  fourth  Wed- 
nesday of  each  month,  designed  for  serious  plant 
enthusiasts  who  want  more  in-depth,  plant-specific 
information.  Your  group  also  can  schedule  individ- 
ual guided  tours  by  calling  the  Arboretum. 

If  you  prefer  to  explore  on  your  own,  obtain  the 
useful  1977  catalog,  Woody  Plants  in  the  Univer- 
sity of  Washington  Arboretum , Washington  Park . 
This  valuable  reference,  on  sale  at  the  gift  shop,  was 
compiled  by  Director  Emeritus  Brian  O.  Mulligan 
and  it  is  the  quintessential  resource  for  serious 
plantspeople  using  the  Arboretum.  It  lists,  by  scien- 
tific name,  the  plant  accessions  along  with  their  date 
of  planting  and  location.  They  are  keyed  to  the  fold- 
out  map  in  back  of  the  book. 

Further  Information  about  Plants 

Plant  records  are  maintained  by  the  curator’s  of- 
fice at  the  Visitors  Center.  Much  of  this  information 
is  now  kept  on  a computerized  data  base.  You  can 
arrange  to  find  out  more  about  individual  plants  or 
entire  collections  by  making  an  appointment  with  a 
staff  member.  For  identification  and  documentation 
purposes,  the  Hyde  Hortorium,  located  at  the  Cen- 
ter for  Urban  Horticulture,  maintains  herbarium 
voucher  specimens  of  the  Arboretum’s  collections. 

More  Questions? 

Now,  after  visiting  the  Arboretum  several  times, 
exploring  the  plant  collections,  talking  to  the  volun- 
teers and  staff,  accompanying  guides  on  tours,  and 


Renowned  for  its  16  acres  of  exquisite 
formal  gardens  and  historic  43  room 
mansion,  Filoli  is  a 654  acre  estate  set 
against  the  verdant  California  Coast 
Range.  A National  Trust  property  lo- 
cated 25  miles  south  of  San  Francisco. 

Open  Tues.-Sat.  10-3  by  reservation;  no 
reservation  needed  Fridays  and  some 
weekends.  Fee.  No  children  under  12 
except  on  nature  hikes. 

Filoli 

Canada  Road,  Woodside,  CA  94062 
(415)  364-2880 


Vol.  54: 1/Spring  1991 


7 


MADISON  PARK 


HARDWARE 


1837  42nd  E.  322-5331 
GARDEN  SUPPLIES  • PAINTS  • TOYS  • GIFTS 


studying  all  of  the  resources  available  on  the  plant 
collections,  your  interest  has  merely  been  piqued 
and  you  still  may  have  many  questions.  Where  can 
you  go  to  find  out  more? 

The  first  place  to  consult  is  the  Arboretum’s  li- 
brary— the  Elisabeth  C.  Miller  Library,  which  is  lo- 
cated at  the  University  of  Washington’s  Center  for 
Urban  Horticulture.  The  best  facility  of  its  kind  in 
the  Pacific  Northwest,  it  is  well  equipped  to  serve  a 
broad  range  of  horticultural  interests.  The  library’s 
collections  include  over  6,000  books,  and  300  jour- 
nal and  newsletter  subscriptions,  providing 
resources  on  horticulture  and  related  topics  for 
everyone  from  the  novice  gardener  to  the  serious  re- 
searcher or  professional.  Nursery  source  references 
provide  information  on  hard-to-find  plants  both  re- 
gionally and  internationally.  Geographic  files  con- 
tain information  on  gardens  and  arboreta  through- 
out the  world.  The  library  staff  will  help  locate  in- 
formation, prepare  reference  lists  on  special  topics, 
and  refer  you  to  local,  regional,  and  national  organ- 
izations that  represent  your  interests. 

Learning  opportunities  also  exist  with  the  public 
classes,  lectures,  and  workshops  offered  by  the  Ar- 
boretum’s continuing  education  programs  and  spe- 
cial events.  Twenty  to  thirty  programs  of  interest 
are  offered  each  quarter,  ranging  from  tours  of  spe- 
cialty nurseries  and  classes  in  pruning,  to  lectures 
on  unusual  plants.  Sign  up  on  the  mailing  list  for 
CUH  Presents  to  receive  the  free  quarterly  newslet- 
ter and  class  schedule,  or  call  (206)  543-8616.  For 
professional  horticulturists,  the  ProHort  Program 
offers  classes  and  a quarterly  newsletter  that  focus 
on  topics  of  interest  to  those  in  the  landscape  trade. 

The  Arboretum  Foundation  also  offers  educa- 
tional programs  to  its  members.  Special  events,  lec- 
tures, and  trips  are  listed  in  its  newsletter.  Plant 
study  groups  and  units  provide  opportunities  to 


share  your  interest  with  others.  The  Arboretum 
Foundation  also  operates  a plant  propagation  serv- 
ice for  unusual  plants  of  the  Arboretum.  For  a small 
fee,  the  greenhouse  volunteers  will  propagate  plants 
for  you  from  the  collections.  The  Foundation’s 
plant  sales  are  another  means  of  learning  about,  as 
well  as  obtaining,  unusual  plants. 

Become  an  Arboretum  volunteer  if  you  want  an 
excellent  means  of  getting  a ‘ ‘ hands  on’  ’ education; 
there  are  many  opportunities  to  learn  while  donat- 
ing your  time  and  energy  in  areas  such  as  the  infor- 
mation desk,  gift  shop,  group  tours,  plant  records, 
office,  library,  hortorium,  grounds,  or  greenhouse. 

Visit  the  Arboretum  Soon 

The  Arboretum  provides  a unique  horticultural 
resource  available  to  anyone  for  enjoyment  and  edu- 
cation. Each  person  using  the  Arboretum  does  so 
with  his  or  her  own  personal  goals.  For  us  to  orches- 
trate anyone’s  experience  too  much  would  elimi- 
nate much  of  the  joy  of  discovery,  independent 
learning,  and  individual  appreciation  of  the  environ- 
ment in  which  we  all  live.  Our  goals  are  to  make  the 
Arboretum  accessible  to  everyone  both  physically 
and  intellectually,  with  resources  that  can  accom- 
modate many  different  needs.  Improvements  are 
continually  being  made  with  the  visitor  in  mind — 
maps  and  brochures,  visitor  services,  directional 
and  interpretive  signage,  indoor  exhibits,  and  col- 
lection renovation  and  display  development.  As  an 
educational  institution,  our  services  are  designed 
simply  to  facilitate,  providing  guidance  and  a 
“menu”  of  different  aids  and  services  from  which 
to  choose. 

We  encourage  you  to  come  and  explore,  make 
your  own  discoveries,  and  enjoy  your  Arboretum. 


Lynda  J.  Ransley  is  the  program  coordinator  for  the 
Washington  Park  Arboretum. 


Fishing  near  the  trail  to  Foster  Island. 


8 


Washington  Park  Arboretum  Bulletin 


Lynda  J.  Rans, 


Purple  Loosestrife 
Threatens 
Washington 
Wetlands 

by  Kristina  G.H.  Lau  and 
Estella  B.  Leopold 

Purple  loosestrife  is  a ‘ ‘purple  horror’  ’ to  ecol- 
ogists. This  perfectly  lovely,  graceful  plant 
growing  along  the  Foster  Island  marsh  trail  of  the 
Washington  Park  Arboretum  looks  harmless 
enough;  however,  it  poses  a serious  statewide 
threat  to  wetland  habitats  and  wildlife,  particularly 
to  waterfowl  and  any  threatened  or  endangered 
species  dependent  on  high-quality  wetland. 

A member  of  the  family  Lythraceae,  purple  loose- 
strife (Ly thrum  salicaria ) is  native  to  marshlands  of 
Eurasia.  Its  introduction  to  North  America  oc- 
curred in  the  early  to  mid- 1800s  when  the  seeds 
probably  were  carried  in  unwashed  wool  delivered 
to  U.S.  mills  (Stuckey  1979)  or  in  ballast  from 
Eurasian  ships  entering  American  waterways  from 
the  East.  By  1985,  marshlands  in  the  northeastern 
United  States  were  infested  by  this  weed.  The  over- 
growth of  purple  loosestrife  has  a serious  impact  on 


the  productivity  of  water  birds  and  aquatic  furbearers 
because  it  has  crowded  out  native  food  plants 
(Thompson  et  al.  1987).  Purple  loosestrife  has  now 
started  to  invade  marshes  of  Washington  and  British 
Columbia  and  is  spreading  rapidly  (Figure  1). 

The  public,  including  those  with  environmental 
interests,  needs  information  about  the  seriousness 
and  nature  of  this  problem.  Below  is  a brief  descrip- 
tion of  the  plant  and  a few  ideas  on  how  you  might 
help  with  the  control  of  this  menace. 

Purple  loosestrife  is  a tall,  slender  emergent 
aquatic  plant  with  reddish-purple  flowers  that 
bloom  from  late  June  to  early  September.  It  grows 
in  water  up  to  1 2"  deep  up  on  to  the  shore.  Mature 
plants  have  numerous  stems  at  heights  of  six  to  ten 
feet  above  perennial  woody  rootstock  (Figure  2); 
stems  hold  spiraling  rows  of  dark  brown  seed  cap- 
sules. The  seeds  are  very  small — the  size  of  large 
pollen  grains  (about  300  microns).  Purple  loose- 
strife typically  develops  into  dense  pure  stands  in 
wetland  or  marsh  areas.  Newer  infestations  are 
commonly  associated  with  cattails,  reed  canary- 
grass,  sedges,  and  rushes. 

The  presence  of  purple  loosestrife  in  the  state  of 
Washington  was  first  recorded  in  1929.  It  may  have 
been  originally  introduced  as  an  ornamental  plant 
around  buildings  and  developments.  It  has  since 
spread  to  irrigation  return-flow  channels  of  eastern 
Washington  and  a number  of  wetland  areas  on  both 
sides  of  the  Cascade  Range.  There,  it  commonly 


Figure  1.  Distribution  of  the  exotic  aquatic  purple  bosestrife  (Lythrum  salicaria)  in  North  America,  1985 

(from  Thompson  et  al.  1 987) 


Vol.  54:1 /Spring  1991 


9 


0 5 to  2 5m 
( 20-100") 
toll 


Opposite  leaves 
in  two  ranks 


Figure  2.  Lythrum  salicaria  (purple 
loosestrife)  (from  Thompson  et  al.  1987). 
Identification  is  easiest  in  winter  when 
stems  and  flower  heads  are  brown  to  light 
brown  in  color. 


Moture  plont 
( 3-5*yeor$) 


Young  plont 
(1-2  yeors ) 


Colyx  enclosing 
single  seed  copsule 


outcompetes  and  displaces  native  wetland  plants, 
causing  a substantial  impact  on  waterfowl.  It  dis- 
places waterfowl  food,  yet  the  weed  is  unpalatable  to 
them;  the  resulting  reduction  of  food  resources 
leads  to  the  ruin  of  waterfowl  habitat. 

When  the  shoreline  only  consists  of  purple  loose- 
strife, waterfowl  and  shorebirds  also  have  no  place 
to  forage,  loaf,  display,  or  rest.  For  example,  at  Lake 
Sammamish  in  1988,  only  a few  purple  loosestrife 
plants  were  found  along  the  northwestern  shore- 
line; now  one-half  of  that  shoreline  is  dominated  by 
tall  dense  stands  (Shirley  Taylor,  Jan.  1991,  per- 
sonal communication).  This  overgrowth  has  de- 
graded cattail  communities,  thereby  destroying 
wildlife  habitats  and  completely  blocking  human  ac- 
cess to  the  lake  from  this  shore.  At  Seattle’s  Mont- 
lake  Fill,  located  east  of  the  University  of  Washing- 
ton along  Union  Bay,  the  presence  of  numerous 
purple  loosestrife  stands  around  the  ponds  is  strong- 
ly associated  with  the  decreasing  species  density  of 
waterfowl  (Lau  1990).  Tall,  dense  stands  of  the 
weed  also  can  be  found  along  the  Foster  Island 
marsh  trail  of  the  Washington  Park  Arboretum. 

Purple  loosestrife  is  an  extremely  aggressive  com- 
petitor; only  tall  dense  shrubs  and  trees  can  outcom- 


Glossary 

Micron  is  .001  of  a millimeter. 

Species  density  is  the  number  of  different 
animal  or  plant  species  per  unit  of  habitat  (i.e., 
pond  surface)  area. 


pete  it  (C.  Perry,  February  1991,  personal  com- 
munication). About  the  only  sites  that  it  does  not 
grow  on  are  areas  of  high  salinity  or  alkalinity. 

Purple  loosestrife  is  a threat  because  of  its  ability  to 
infest  and  invade  wetlands  (C.  Perry,  February  1991, 
personal  communication).  The  tiny  loosestrife  seeds 
are  easily  distributed  by  wind,  water,  animals,  and 
human  activity.  It  is  also  able  to  reproduce  vegeta- 
tively;  new  shoots  can  grow  from  broken-off  plant 
parts  that  land  in  a moist  environment. 

Once  the  plant  is  established,  it  is  very  difficult — if 
not  impossible — to  eradicate.  For  example,  in  Idaho 
an  infested  area  was  treated  for  two  consecutive  years 
with  an  effective  herbicide,  yet  a scattering  of  plants 
still  remained.  Once  a seed  bank  is  established  in  a 
three-year-old  plant,  removal  or  spraying  only  opens 
the  stands  for  new  seedling  growth.  The  fragile  na- 
ture of  wetlands  can  make  it  unfeasible  to  use  heavy 
machinery  for  removal.  The  dense  matting  of  the 
roots  also  prevents  complete  physical  removal  of  the 
plant.  Herbicides  have  been  found  to  be  successful 
in  the  short  run,  yet  their  environmental  impacts — 
including  those  of  biodegradable  ones  such  as 
Rodeo®  which  contain  glyphosate — have  not  been 
well  studied.  Methods  of  biological  control  by  intro- 
duction of  certain  weevils  and  beetles  are  currently 
being  investigated  (Thompson  1989).  If  the  insects 
are  approved,  they  could  be  released  in  Washington 
State  in  two  to  three  years. 

The  invasive  nature  of  purple  loosestrife  is  evi- 
dent to  all  researchers,  yet  a controversy  exists 
regarding  the  effects  of  this  intrusion.  Some  re- 
searchers believe  it  is  not  always  detrimental  to  ex- 
isting habitats.  For  example,  the  matting  of  the  pur- 
ple loosestrife  roots  has  a positive  side  in  aiding  the 
stabilization  of  soil  or  shoreline.  Because  of  this  con- 
troversy, more  research  on  the  effects  of  purple 
loosestrife  is  needed. 

Yet  purple  loosestrife  stands  are  already  a serious 
problem  to  wildlife  in  localized  wetlands  of  Wash- 
ington State,  Oregon,  and  British  Columbia  (Figure 
1).  Constant,  intensive  monitoring  of  wetlands  is 
necessary.  Containment,  early  detection,  and  spray 
or  removal  of  first-year  plants  is  crucial  to  prevent 
further  destruction  of  wetlands  by  this  weed. 

Since  August  1990,  when  a state  nursery  quar- 
antine of  purple  loosestrife  was  established  in  Wash- 
ington State,  the  plant  cannot  be  sold  or  trans- 
ported; violations  result  in  a $1,000  fine.  Offenders 
should  be  reported  to  the  Washington  Department 
of  Agriculture  to  prevent  the  continued  spread  of 
this  pest. 


10 


Washington  Park  Arboretum  Bulletin 


What  can  you  do?  Learn  to  identify  purple  loose- 
strife. Report  isolated  occurrences  immediately  to 
the  local  weed  control  authority  or  the  State  Nox- 
ious Weed  Control  Board.  Inventory  information  is 
extremely  valuable.  Become  involved  or  form  a lo- 
cal volunteer  group  to  develop  and  implement 
small-scale  eradication  programs.  Pass  the  word  to 
neighbors,  friends,  and  co-workers  about  the  effects 
of  purple  loosestrife  and  what  needs  to  be  done  to 
prevent  its  spread.  Dan  Thompson’s  (1987,  1989) 
excellent  pamphlets  provide  valuable  basic  facts 
about  this  problem.  Copies  can  be  obtained  by  writ- 
ing to  Publications  Unit,  U.S.  Fish  and  Wildlife 
Service,  Washington  DC,  20240. 

Local  interest  groups,  such  as  the  Coalition  to 
Save  Lake  Sammamish,  have  tried  small-scale  eradi- 
cation plans  but  have  been  unable  to  keep  pace  with 
the  rapid  spread  of  the  plant.  The  Noxious  Weed 
Control  Board  of  each  county  needs  to  take  an  ac- 
tive role  in  controling  this  weed  because  control  is 
left  to  each  county’s  discretion.  Let  your  com- 
munity and  state  legislators  know  your  concern. 
The  Washington  Department  of  Wildlife,  Washing- 
ton Department  of  Ecology,  Washington  State  Nox- 
ious Weed  Control  Board,  United  States  Depart- 
ment of  Agriculture,  United  States  Bureau  of  Rec- 
lamation, and  Grant  County  Noxious  Weed  Con- 
trol Board  have  formed  a task  force  to  develop  and 
implement  plans  for  the  control  and  monitoring  of 
purple  loosestrife  in  Washington  State.  To  indicate 
your  interest,  contact  the  people  listed  below. 

Acknowledgments 

We  would  like  to  thank  Charles  Perry,  Sharon 
Sorby,  Shirley  Taylor,  and  the  anonymous  re- 
viewers for  their  assistance. 

Contacts  for  Action  Against  Loosestrife: 

Sharon  Sorby,  Pacific  NW  Lythrum  Strife  Force,  PO 
Box  5085,  Newport,  WA  99156-5085,  (509)447-2401 

Maureen  Beckstead,  Wildlife  Area  Program  Man- 
ager, Chair  of  Purple  Loosestrife  Oversight  Committee, 
Washington  Department  of  Wildlife,  Olympia,  WA, 
(206)  753-5700 

Joanna  Buehler,  President,  Coalition  to  Save  Lake 
Sammamish,  Issaquah,  WA,  (206)  64 1-3008 

Wendy  Burt,  Bellevue’s  Stream  Team,  (206) 
637-5216 

Diane  Dolstad,  Washington  Department  of  Agricul- 
ture, state  weed  specialist,  (206)  586-5306 

Catherine  Hovanic,  executive  secretary,  Washington 
State  Noxious  Weed  Control  Board,  1851  South  Cen- 
tral Place,  Suite  206,  Kent,  WA  98031,  (206) 
872-6480 

Charles  Perry,  Washington  Department  of  Wildlife, 
4204  West  Lakeshore  Drive,  Moses  Lake,  WA  98837, 
(509)  765-6236;  (509)  754-4624 


(artier 

fcjru 


The  measure  of 
creative  genius. 


SUNGLASSES 
AND  OPTICAL  FRAMES 
from  Cartier- Paris 


Eyewear  like  jewelry  settings  fashioned  of  gold  and  light.  Cartier 
presents  eyewear  designed  to  enhance  the  expressive  beauty  of  the 
eyes.  Pure,  contemporary  lines  delicately  traced  in  gold,  lacquer  or 
steel.  Fascinating  creations  to  delight  the  eye. 

All  the  classic  Cartier  touches  are  here:  The  steel  and  gold  Santos 
look,  the  two-toned  ribbed  “rolling  ring’’  motifs,  the  burgundy 
color  accents,  and  the  famous  interlocking  “C“  signature.  Each 
pair  is  made  in  precious  palladium  and  finished  in  22K  yellow 
gold.  From  $540  to  $1,210. 


THE 


709  Broadway  East,  Seattle,  WA  98102 
Capitol  Hill,  (206)  328-4386 


References 

Lau,  K.G.H.  1990.  “Influence  of  Habitat  Charac- 
teristics on  the  Waterfowl  Usage  of  Ponds:  A Case  Study 
in  Seattle,  WA.”  To  be  published  in  the  proceedings  of 
the  Puget  Sound  Research  ‘91  Conference.  Seattle: 
Puget  Sound  Water  Quality  Authority. 

Stuckey,  R.L.,  and  M.L.  Roberts.  1979.  “Distribu- 
tional History  of  Lythrum  salicaria  (purple  loosestrife)  in 
North  America.”  Bartonia  47(6):  3-21. 

Thompson,  D.Q.,  et  al.  1987.  Spread,  Impact,  and 
Control  of  Purple  Loosestrife  (Lythrum  salicaria)  in 
North  American  Wetlands.  Fish  and  Wildlife  Research 
2.  Washington,  DC:  U.S.  Department  of  Interior,  Fish 
and  Wildlife  Service. 

Thompson,  D.Q.  1989.  Control  of  Purple  Loose- 
strife. Fish  and  Wildlife  Leaflet  13.  Washington,  DC: 
U.S.  Department  of  Interior,  Fish  and  Wildlife  Service. 


Kristina  G.H.  Lau  graduated  from  the  University  of 
Washington  with  a Master  of  Arts  for  Teachers  in  the 
Biological  Sciences.  She  recently  studied  waterfowl  wet- 
land habitats  at  the  Montlake  Fill,  Seattle.  The  resulting 
paper  was  presented  at  the  Puget  Sound  Research  ‘91 
conference  in  which  she  was  awarded  “Best  Oral  Pre- 
sentation” in  the  student  competition. 

Estella  B.  Leopold  is  a professor  of  botany  and  envi- 
ronmental studies.  She  is  adjunct  professor  of  Forest  Re- 
sources, Geological  Sciences,  and  the  Quaternary  Re- 
search Center. 


Vol.  54:1 /Spring  1991 


11 


Tamara  Lee  Knight 


Nothofagus  antarctica 
c Puget  Pillar5: 

A Trim  New 
Introduction 


by  Timothy  Hohn 


The  generic  name  Nothofagus  (false  beech)  was 
selected  in  1850  by  the  German  botanist 
Blume  to  antagonize  his  peers  (Batavi  1850).  It 
seems  that  they  were  at  odds  over  the  relationship  of 
these  southern-hemisphere  trees  to  the  true  beech, 
Fagus,  of  the  northern  hemisphere.  Upon  naming, 
Blume’ s opinion  was  solidified.  Noto fagus  (without 


an  ‘h’)  means  “southern  beech,”  which  may  be  a 
better  common  name  for  these  denizens  of  moun- 
tain and  lowland  because  they  are  found  nowhere 
north  of  the  equator.  Whether  southern  or  false 
beech,  the  technicalities  of  flower  structure  separate 
it  from  true  beeches  in  the  minds  of  most  taxono- 
mists as  distinctly  as  distance  separates  them  across 
the  land. 

Ranging  along  the  southern  boundary  of  the  in- 
famous Pacific  “Rim  of  Fire,”  the  genus  Notho- 
fagus has  its  largest  concentrations  (around  16 
species)  in  the  soggy  uplands  of  Papua  New  Guinea 
and  dominates  the  forest  flora  of  temperate  Chile 
(around  nine  species)  at  opposite  ends  of  the 
“Rim.”  Native  species  of  southern  beech  also  are 
found  in  New  Caledonia,  Australia,  Tasmania,  and 
New  Zealand,  and  fossil  remains  are  found  in  Ant- 
arctica, thus  completing  a tectonically  fragmented 
picture  of  a once-united  flora. 

Storming  the  volcanic  peaks  of  southern  Chile  or 
kayaking  stream  courses  in  the  arid  Andean  foot- 
hills of  Argentina,  one  is  apt  to  find  pockets  and 
forests  of  Nothofagus  antarctica . Commonly  re- 
ferred to  by  Patagonians  as  the  “beggar”  (Dimitri 
1972),  N.  antarctica  dwells  in  those  locations  re- 
jected by  its  brethren.  Cowering  in  cold  hollows  and 
tenaciously  clinging  to  windswept  coastal  moors 
and  precipitous  mountain  peaks,  N.  antarctica  is  a 
hardy  little  “beggar. ’ ’ Two  forms  of  this  deciduous 
tree  are  recognized,  one  a medium-sized  forest 
dweller  and  the  other  a krummholz  of  dwarfism.  A 
deciduous  minority  amongst  a genus  of  primarily 
evergreen  trees,  it  has  alternating,  closely  set, 
broadly  ovate  leaves  to  one-inch  long  that  are 
curiously  waved  and  ruffled.  The  branchlets  are  set 
in  one  plane  giving  each  tree  a layered  and  distinc- 
tive habit,  one  of  particular  elegance  when  they  are 
young.  The  fall  color  is  a rich  russet  and  some 
flowering  specimens  have  a pleasing  fragrance. 
Nothofagus  antarctica , or  Nine  as  it  is  known  in 
Chile,  grows  fast  in  the  Pacific  Northwest  and  can, 
unfortunately,  develop  a thin  and  open  habit  as  an 
older  tree. 

At  the  Washington  Park  Arboretum  we  have 
selected  a seedling  variant  of  this  southern  beech 
that  is  broadly  fastigiate  (cone  shaped)  with  dense, 
upward  growing  branches.  The  distinctive  planar 
and  layered  branching  of  Nothofagus  antarctica  is 
still  evident,  but  the  crown  is  more  tighdy  whorled, 
forming  a narrower  and  fuller  head. 

This  new  selection,  named  ‘Puget  Pillar’,  retains 
many  of  the  same  distinctions  of  branching  and  all 


12 


Washington  Park  Arboretum  Bulletin 


Glossary 

Fastigiate  indicates  a plant  that  has  upright, 
usually  clustered,  branches. 

Krummholz  is  a German  term  commonly 
used  in  botany  and  ecology  to  describe  the 
stunted  forms  of  trees  found  at  their  upper  alti- 
tudinal limits,  often  caused  by  the  wind. 
“Krumm”  means  “crooked.” 


the  beauty  of  foliage  typical  of  Nothofagus  antarc- 
tica.  However,  its  denser  crown  and  upright  form 
make  it  an  even  more  desirable  medium-sized  tree 
for  urban  landscapes.  Mature  trees  can  be  expected 
to  reach  a height  of  40-50  feet  in  20  years  with  a 
crown  spread  of  12-18  feet.  At  maturity,  N antarc- 
tica ‘Puget  Pillar’  will  be  reminiscent  of  mature 
Carpinus  betulus  ‘Fastigiata’  in  crown  shape,  but 
with  finer  texture  and  attractively  furrowed  bark. 
Our  mature  tree  of  ‘Puget  Pillar’  has  never  suffered 
serious  crotch  or  crown  failures,  even  during  the 
heavy,  wet  snowfalls  that  occasionally  plague  our 
area.  Though  the  crown  is  dense  and  stable,  the 
small  and  interesting  leaves  of  this  southern  beech 
selection  keep  its  appearance  from  becoming  too 
heavy  and  imposing. 

Nothofagus  antarctica  ‘Puget  Pillar’  is  best 
adapted  to  the  western  United  States  in  those  areas  of 
USDA  hardiness  zone  7 or  above  (Sunset  Zone  4). 
These  trees  should  thrive  in  all  parts  of  the  British 
Isles  and  the  maritime  and  Mediterranean  portions  of 
Europe.  It  is  known  in  Great  Britain  that  species  of 
Nothofagus  do  not  do  well  on  calcareous  soils  and  we 
must  assume  that  the  same  applies  here.  Except  in 
areas  of  extreme  drought,  established  and  mature 
trees  will  not  require  significant  irrigation.  Open, 
sunny  areas  are  best,  although  partial  shade,  as  that 
from  buildings,  is  suitable.  We  have  not  observed  any 


serious  pest  problems  with  this  plant,  although  we 
have  noted  the  presence  of  small  populations  of  plant 
hoppers  (order:  Hemiptera). 

The  grove  of  three  specimens  is  northwest  of 
the  Graham  Visitors  Center,  west  of  the  lagoon. 
From  the  Visitors  Center,  follow  Arboretum 
Drive  to  the  Foster  Island  Road;  turn  west  to  the 
next  parking  lot  on  your  right.  The  specimen  is 
north  of  the  parking  lot. 

Nothofagus  antarctica  ‘Puget  Pillar’  is  relatively 
easy  to  propagate  from  softwood  cuttings  that  are 
treated  with  a hormone,  such  as  the  Woods  1:7 
brand,  and  placed  under  conditions  of  high  humid- 
ity. It  would  be  quite  at  home  in  narrow  tree  lawns, 
passages,  and  other  tight  tree  spaces.  As  one  of  the 
larger  members  of  a screen,  it  would  mingle  nicely 
with  other  hedging  materials  and  conifers.  Individ- 
ual specimens  provide  striking  contrasts  against 
linear,  horizontal  landscape  features  such  as  un- 
broken walls,  fences,  and  roof  lines.  The  fall  foliage 
of  this  upright  Nine  is  particularly  rich  in  contrast 
with  light  yellows,  such  as  Hamamelis  virginiana 
foliage  and  flowers.  No  matter  how  it  is  used,  N. 
antarctica  ‘Puget  Pillar’  is  the  botanical  aristocrat  of 
the  species. 


Timothy  Hohn  is  curator  of  living  collections  at  the 
University  of  Washington  Center  for  Urban  Horticul- 
ture and  Washington  Park  Arboretum. 

Limited  numbers  of  plants  found  in  the  Arboretum 
and  described  above  can  be  propagated  by  the  Pat  Cal- 
vert Greenhouse  for  members  of  The  Arboretum  Foun- 
dation. 

References 

Batavi,  Lugno.  1850.  Nothofagi.  Museum  Botani- 
cum. 

Dimitri,  Milan  J.  197  2 . La  Region  de  los  Bosques  An- 
dinos — Patagonicos  Sinopsis  General.  Buenes  Aires. 


GARDEN 

WOODWORK 

Design  & Construction 

•Trellises  ‘Arbors 
•Fences  ‘Gates 
•Privacy  Screens 
•Vertical  Gardening 
Projects 

Bill  Langer 
324-7096 


INTERIOR  DESIGN 
Residential  - Executive  Offices 
Courtyards  and  Tea  Gardens 

PROFESSIONAL  MEMBER 
AMERICAN  SOCIETY  OF 
INTERIOR  DESIGNERS 

(206)  525-2207  SEATTLE,  WA 
Arboretum  Foundation  member,  40  years 


Vol.  54:1 /Spring  1991 


13 


Between  the  winter  garden  and  spring  landscape  is  a time  for  special  flower,  bark,  and  leaf 
color.  Plant  the  species  found  in  the  article  by  November  for  pre-spring  flower  next  year; 
they  are  available  in  Puget  Sound  nurseries.  An  asterisk  (*)  indicates  Washington  Park 

Arboretum  plants. 


Late  Winter, 
Early  Spring  Color 

by  Daniel  J.  Hinkley 

Midwinter  spring  is  its  own  season 
Sempiternal  though  sodden  towards  sundown, 
suspended  in  time, 

Between  pole  and  tropic— 

T.S.  Eliot,  from  Four  Quartets 

uring  the  season  when  our  senses  are  dulled 
by  the  monotony  of  rain  and  flat,  gray  skies, 
fragrance  from  * Chimonanthus  and  * Sarcococca, 
and  colors  of  * witch  hazels  come  to  the  rescue.  Yet 
these  and  other  commonly  used  winter-blooming 
plants  have  long  finished  their  season  of  interest  as 
the  days  begin  to  lengthen.  The  hibernal  landscape 
from  mid-February  through  the  Ides  of  March  seems 
most  barren — especially  during  years,  such  as  this, 
that  our  gardens  have  suffered  so  from  arctic  winds. 
And  from  this  prolonged  dreary  scene,  spring  ar- 
rives, an  unfolding  drama  of  changes  and  colors, 
flooding  the  senses  with  ephemeral  thrills  that  two 
months  earlier  would  have  been  so  welcomed. 

A well-planted  garden,  however,  will  allow  a slow 
approach  to  the  spring’s  zenith.  It  will  include 
species  of  plants,  largely  ignored,  that  beckon  the 
horticulturist  from  the  winter  garden  down  a wind- 
ing path  to  that  moment  when  colors,  like  great 
flocks  of  birds,  fly  into  your  garden.  It  is  during  this 
time  of  the  year,  as  well,  with  fewer  distractions 
from  the  abundant  colors  of  late  spring  and  sum- 
mer, that  thoughtful  combinations  to  excite  the 
senses  seem  less  difficult  to  achieve. 

Consider  Forsythia  giraldiana , a little-known  yel- 
low-bell that  is  an  excellent  choice  for  the  mid- 
winter garden.  This  species,  from  northwestern 
China,  is  less  vigorous  in  growth  than  the  many 
hybrid  Forsythias  common  to  our  landscapes.  The 
flowers,  pale  yellow,  are  borne  profusely  on  dark 
stems  for  a three-week  period  often  beginning  in 
mid-to-late  February.  Planted  at  the  base  of  this  For- 
sythia in  my  garden  is  a contrived  splash  of  the 
early-flowered  Crocus  vernus — with  lavender  petals 
and  bright  gold  anthers  it  answers  the  Forsythia 


nicely  when  both  are  in  flower. 

One  of  the  unsung  gems  of  Northwest  garden- 
ing— manzanita,  as  it  is  commonly  called — produces 
slightly  drooping  terminal  clusters  of  soft  pink  urn- 
shaped  flowers  in  late  February.  This  small,  ir- 
regularly shaped  tree  attracts  a devoted  follow- 
ing— not  for  its  flowers  as  much  as  for  its  red,  al- 
most sensual,  bark  and  persistent  gray-green  leaves. 
Because  members  of  this  genus  are  unsuccessfully 
moved  once  established  in  the  ground,  * Arcto- 
staphylos  manzanita  should  be  produced  in  con- 
tainers and  transplanted  to  a permanent  site  when 
relatively  young.  A venerable  specimen  can  be  seen 
in  the  rock  garden  along  Lake  Washington  Boule- 
vard East  on  the  south  end  of  the  Washington  Park 
Arboretum.  Arcto staph ylos  manzanita , though  na- 
tive to  California,  succeeds  well  in  our  more  north- 
ern climate  and  shows  little  damage  from  the  blasts 
of  wind  and  cold.  Position  it  in  full  sun  with  a well- 
drained,  sandy  soil. 

Jewel-like  strands  of  yellow  and  green  on  purple 
could  best  describe  the  drooping  flower  spikes  of 
most  species  of  Stachyurus.  The  most  commonly 
encountered  species,  * Stachyurus  praecox,  is  a 
multi-stemmed  Japanese  shrub  that  ultimately 
reaches  a height  of  fifteen  feet.  Axillary  inflores- 
cences, to  five  inches  in  length,  are  produced  in 
abundance  along  the  young  purple  stems  of  this 
shrub  in  early  to  mid-March.  One  of  the  most  effec- 
tive uses  of  Stachyurus  I have  seen  was  in  a planting 
with  * Acer  griseum , the  paperbark  maple.  The 
drooping  yellow  spikes  of  Stachyurus  sparkled  in 
contrast  with  the  flaky  cinnamon  crust  of  the  maple 
branches  with  which  it  was  intermingled,  giving  a 
magical  effect.  In  spring  1990,  I received  from 
Japan  plants  of  S.  praecox  ‘ Aureomarginata’  as  well 
as  ‘S.  praecox  ‘Variegata’.  ‘Aureomarginata’,  the 
much  better  of  the  two,  has  leaves  brightly  mar- 
gined with  yellow  which  remains  throughout  the 
summer;  S.  praecox  ‘Variegata’  has  weak  blotches 
of  white  throughout  the  leaves.  Find  Stachyurus 
praecox  an&chinensis  species  in  the  Joseph  A.  Witt 
Winter  Garden. 

The  genus  Ribes  is  well  represented  in  the  native 
flora  of  Washington  State,  with  perhaps  the  best 
known  and  most  utilized  being  * Ribes  sanguineum , 
commonly  referred  to  as  the  red  flowering  currant. 


14. 


Washington  Park  Arboretum  Bulletin 


This  plant  is  underused  in  landscapes  throughout 
the  Puget  Sound  and  deserves  more  recognition  as  a 
superb  late  February  through  March-flowering 
shrub.  The  flower  color  varies  considerably 
throughout  its  native  range,  from  Alaska  to  north- 
ern California,  with  deep  reds  through  light  pink. 
Several  selections  with  white  flowers  are  also  avail- 
able. A massing  of  plants  representing  these  color 
variants,  including  the  many  intermediate  pink 
shades,  is  an  extraordinary  sight  amidst  a still-sleep- 
ing landscape.  Ribes  sanguineum  and  other  species 
of  this  genus  serve  as  alternate  hosts  to  white  pine 
blister  rust,  a fungal  disease  that  can  seriously  infect 
our  native  and  exotic  five-needle  pines.  To  avoid 
problems,  the  currants  should  be  planted  1 ,000  feet 
or  Vi  mile  from  white  pines. 

Ribes  sanguineum  is  not  the  only  desirable 
species  of  this  genus  to  be  considered  for  visual  in- 
terest during  the  stale  months  of  early  spring. 
* Ribes  laurifolium,  an  evergreen  species  from 
China,  is  an  extremely  early  bloomer  that  bears 
drooping  creamy  yellow  flowers  in  late  February 
and  early  March.  Unlike  R.  sanguineum , R. 
laurifolium  is  a low-spreading  shrub  that  will  not 
usually  exceed  three  feet  in  height.  The  dark  ever- 
green foliage  is  most  un -Ribes  like  and  is  attractive 
throughout  the  year.  Ribes  laurifolium  is  a dioe- 
cious species  with  male  plants  having  larger  flowers, 
thus  being  the  more  desirable  in  regards  to  orna- 
ment. The  Arboretum’s  specimen  is  in  the  lath 
house. 

The  many  species  of  Cory  lop  sis,  the  winter 
hazels,  could  by  themselves  be  used  as  a continual 
source  of  fragrant,  soft  yellow  flowers  from  early 

Glossary 

Anther  is  the  part  of  the  stamen  that  con- 
tains pollen. 

Dioecious  indicates  production  of  male  and  fe- 
male flowers  on  separate  plants  of  the  same  species. 

Inflorescences  are  flower  clusters  of  a plant. 

Pedicel  is  a plant  stalk  of  a single  flower. 

Raceme  is  an  inflorescence  composed  of  a 
single  main  stem  (rachis)  to  which  are  attached 
individual  flowers.  Racemes  differ  from  spikes  by 
having  the  flowers  attached  to  the  rachis  by 
pedicels  rather  than  being  directly  attached. 

Stamen  is  the  male  organ  of  a flower,  consist- 
ing of  an  anther  and  usually  a filament. 


winter  to  beyond  the  vernal  equinox.  Each  species 
has  its  own  time  in  the  sun,  with  significant  overlap- 
ping of  bloom  sequences.  The  earliest  species  of  the 
lot  is  the  most  frequendy  encountered  in  our  land- 
scapes, *C.  pauciflora.  This  is  the  most  diminutive 
of  the  genus,  ultimately  no  taller  than  four  feet  with 
a spread  of  four  to  six  feet.  In  my  experience,  this 
species  is  the  least  sun  tolerant  of  the  genus,  and 
should  be  provided  a sheltered  position  to  avoid  un- 
sightly scorched  leaves.  Its  specific  epithet  “pauci- 
flora” refers  to  the  number  of  flowers  (1-3)  per  in- 
florescence rather  than  the  paucity  of  flowers  on  the 
shrub  as  a whole.  The  lemon-yellow  flowers  are 
sweetly  scented,  yet,  in  my  opinion,  far  from  over- 
powering. 

As  the  flowers  of  Corylopsis  pauciflora  begin  to 
fade,  those  of  *C.  spicata  are  just  gearing  up  for  the 
race  and,  in  turn,  will  hand  the  baton  to  one  of  the 
finest  species,  *C.  sinensis.  Corylopsis  spicata  and 
C.  sinensis  both  have  large  flower  clusters,  each 
composed  of  up  to  15  florets,  and  are  of  large  stat- 
ure, up  to  15  feet  in  height.  Corylopsis  sinensis  has 
many  geographical  variants,  all  of  which  are  equally 
effective  in  the  landscape.  My  favorite  in  flower, 
form,  and  foliage,  however,  is  *C.  glabrescens.  The 
flowers  are  seen  as  drooping  spikes  to  two  inches  in 


Vol.  54:1 /Spring  1991 


15 


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Fine  custom  design  at 
affordable  rates,  from 
traditional  to  contemporary. 
Unique  gem  and  diamond 
selection.  Multi-color  gold 
specialists.  ‘Distinguished' 
member  of  the  Society  of 
North  American  Goldsmiths 


RINGWORKS 


4031  E.  Madison  St. 
206-323-8811 
Hours  Tues  - Sat 
11:00  to  5:30 
Evenings  by 
appointment 


16 


length,  and  borne  on  naked  stems  in  early  to  mid- 
March.  The  foliage  emerges  with  a wonderful 
bronze  green  color,  and  later  takes  on  a hint  of  blue. 
Intermediate  in  size,  C.  glabrescens  will  not  exceed 
eight  feet  in  height  and  tolerates  both  full  sun  and 
partial  shade.  It  also  is  considered  to  be  the  hardiest 
of  all  Corylopsis  species.  Find  many  Corylopsis 
species  in  the  Joseph  A.  Witt  Winter  Garden. 

Contrasting  extraordinarily  well  with  the  soft  yel- 
low of  the  winter  hazels  are  the  brassy  purple-red 
flowers  of  * Daphne  mezereum . Oddly  scarce  in  the 
landscapes  of  western  Washington,  this  fragrant 
daphne  puts  on  a good  show  in  mid-February  with 
leafless  stems  to  six  feet  in  height,  coated  with  waxy, 
brightly  colored  flowers.  Unfortunately,  the  red  ber- 
ries produced  after  flowering — an  attraction  in 
themselves — are  very  poisonous.  Daphne 
mezereum , like  other  free-fruiting  daphnes,  should 
be  avoided  in  landscapes  whose  fauna  include  in- 
quisitive toddlers.  The  more  subdued  white  form  of 
the  species  can  be  observed  in  the  Joseph  A.  Witt 
Winter  Garden. 

Another,  yet  more  subde,  combination  with  Cor- 
ylopsis is  the  genus  Neillia,  composed  of  several 
species.  Of  the  four  species  growing  in  my  garden, 
the  showiest  is  Neillia  longiracemosa.  Taxonomists 
made  no  attempt  to  hide  the  significance  of  this 
species,  and  indeed  it  does  have  the  longest  flower 
racemes  of  the  genus.  The  flowers  are  a clear  deep 
pink  and  have  a delicate  beauty  which  is  greatly  ap- 
preciated in  mid-March.  Neillia  longiracemosa  is 
undeservingly  obscure  in  western  horticulture,  and 
though  it  will  ultimately  become  a shrub  of  signifi- 
cant stature,  to  ten  feet,  it  is  easily  and  effectively 
pruned  to  keep  the  size  in  bounds.  A closely  related 
species,  *N.  sinensis , is  in  the  lath  house  near  the 
Graham  Visitors  Center;  another  species,  *N.  af- 
fine, can  be  seen  adjacent  to  the  now-closed  Lynn 
Street  foot  bridge  parking  lot. 

Far  from  encyclopedic,  I have  offered  only  a few 
suggestions  from  countless  numbers  of  plants  that 
we  often  fail  to  consider  for  lengthening  the  seasons 
of  our  horticultural  enjoyment.  Many  species  and 
hybrids  of  rhododendrons,  a subject  unto  itself,  also 
would  be  excellent  choices  for  early  color.  Using 
late  winter  and  early  spring  shrubs  both  pacifies  the 
longing  for  spring  and  softens  the  transition  be- 
tween a sleeping  and  suddenly  awakening  landscape. 


Daniel  J.  Hinkley  is  an  instructor  of  horticulture  at 
Edmonds  Community  College.  Recently  he  joined  the 
board  of  directors  of  the  Seattle  Chinese  Garden  Society 
and  is  co-chair  of  its  horticulture  committee.  Dan  is  a 
member  of  the  editorial  board  of  the  Washington  Park 
Arboretum  Bulletin. 


The  Northwest 
Garden  Explorer 


Woody  Plants 
of  the  Medicinal 
Herb  Garden 


Some  trees  and  shrubs  in  the  University 
of  Washington’s  Medicinal  Herb  Garden  boast 
their  own  pharmacological  properties, 
and  many  woody  specimens  form  the  Garden’s 
design  backbone. 


An  asterisk  (*)  indicates  species,  including 
varieties  and/or  forms,  that  can  be  found 
in  the  Washington  Park  Arboretum. 


by  Mary  Booth 


Degree  of  difficulty:  Level  walking.  Mostly 
wheelchair  accessible. 

Best  time  of  year:  April  to  July,  prime. 

June  and  July,  peak  flowering  time.  March 
and  April,  new  growth.  Late  summer,  seeds 
and  berries. 

Parking:  By  car,  drive  to  the  west  gate  of  the 
University  of  Washington  (15th  Avenue 
NE)  and  follow  Stevens  Way  south  and  east 
to  CTO  parking.  This  lot  is  free  on 
Saturday  afternoons  and  Sundays.  Other 
times,  obtain  information  and  a map  from 
the  gatekeeper. 

Buses:  Call  Metro  Transit,  (206)  447-4800. 

Address:  University  of  Washington,  Seattle 
(see  map) 

Tour:  Call  Friends  of  the  Medicinal  Herb 
Garden,  (206)  543-1126. 


¥ M /'hen  it  started  in  1911,  the  University  of 
V V Washington  Drug  Plant  Garden  com- 
prised the  two-acre  area  now  known  as  the  Medici- 
nal Herb  Garden.  The  whole  field  of  pharmacog- 
nosy was  more  central  to  the  University  pharmacy 
curriculum  at  that  time  because  plants  were  the 
only  source  of  many  medicinal  drugs.  This  situation 
began  to  change  with  the  advent  of  synthetic  drug 
production  in  laboratories  after  World  War  EL 
Over  time  the  role  of  the  Garden  has  changed, 
especially  as  its  relevance  to  the  Pharmacy  pro- 
grams declined.  In  view  of  its  historical  and  botanic 
interest,  the  maintenance  was  assumed  by  the  De- 
partment of  Botany  in  1979,  much  aided  by  a vol- 
unteer group,  the  Friends  of  the  Medicinal  Herb 
Garden.  Garden  users  now  represent  a diversity  of 
interests,  whether  collegian  or  those  of  the  general 
public.  Students  from  zoology,  landscape  architec- 
ture, the  Center  for  Urban  Horticulture,  forest 
resources,  and  beginning  and  advanced  students  of 
botany,  now  use  the  garden.  Interests  of  the  general 


This  monkey yyreets 
you  at  Cascara 
Circle,  at  the 
Medicinal  Herb 
Garden  entry 
(far  left). 


Vol.  54:1 /Spring  1991 


17 


Glossary 

Exfoliate  means  to  come  off  in  thin  sheets  or 
layers,  as  with  tree  bark. 

Herbaceous  plants  are  seed  plants  (annuals 
or  perennials)  that  do  not  develop  woody,  persist- 
ent tissues  (as  do  shrubs  and  trees). 

Pharmacognosy  is  the  science  dealing  with 
the  composition,  production,  use,  and  history  of 
drugs  derived  from  plants  and  animals. 


public  are  equally  varied,  including  weavers  looking 
for  natural  dyes,  cooks  exploring  flavorful  additions 
to  their  herb  collection,  armchair  anthropology 
buffs  looking  at  indigenous  plants  used  by  Native 
Americans,  and  health-conscious  individuals  wish- 
ing to  discover  more  natural  and  gende  alternatives 
to  many  household  and  beauty  products. 

The  herbaceous  material  is  not  the  only  plant 
group  in  the  Medicinal  Herb  Garden  with  special 
properties  recognized  by  the  diverse  groups  listed 
above.  The  Garden  also  has  trees  and  shrubs.  Most 
of  the  Garden  is  tucked  behind  and  integrated  with 
the  continuous  shrub  plantings  located  along 


Stevens  Way  in  the  south  part  of  the  main  univer- 
sity campus.  These  shrubs  and  some  trees  ensconce 
it  like  a secret  garden  filled  with  very  important 
plants.  Some  of  the  woody  plants  contain  special 
properties;  many  serve  as  a structural  and  design 
component. 

Various  woody  plants  of  the  Medicinal  Herb  Gar- 
den are  discussed  below  for  their  special  properties, 
as  well  as  their  use  in  the  landscape.  The  Garden  it- 
self is  laid  out  as  a series  of  intimately  scaled  outdoor 
spaces. 

Cascara  Circle 

Entering  off  Stevens  Way,  near  Benson  Hall,  the 
first  enclosure  is  ringed  with  native  shrubs  backed 
by  taller  deciduous  trees,  including  the  native  cas- 
cara. The  center  of  this  circular  area  is  a flat  lawn  ac- 
cented by  a narrow  water  course  that  meanders 
through  the  grass. 

Many  of  the  Medicinal  Herb  Garden’s  indige- 
nous plants  in  Cascara  Circle  were  used  by  Native 
Americans  and  later  by  the  European  settlers. 
Three  of  these  native  shrubs  also  would  make  excel- 
lent structural  plants  in  a residential  garden. 

The  berries  of  salal  ( * Gault heria  shallon), 
evergreen  huckleberry  ( * Vaccinium  ovatum\  and 


From  Section  A of  the  Garden  toward  Section  B,  through  two  English  yews  (Taxus  baccata  cFastigiata  Aurea  ’). 


18 


Washington  Park  Arboretum  Bulletin 


Lynn  Brady,  courtesy  Friends  of  the  Medicinal  Herb  Garden 


tall  Oregon  grape  (* Mahonia  aquifolium)  were  en- 
joyed by  Native  Americans,  both  fresh  and  pre- 
served for  winter  use.  The  root  of  Oregon  grape  was 
used  in  herbal  medicine  as  a blood  purifier  and  a 
treatment  for  sore  throat  (Gunther  1945).  It  also 
was  used  to  make  a yellow  dye,  especially  for  bear 
grass  (Xerophyllum  tenax)  which  was  used  in  In- 
dian basketry.  Oregon  grape  root  is  still  included  in 
contemporary  publications  about  herbs  (Mabey 
1988). 

The  tall  Oregon  grape  plant  distinguishes  itself  in 
the  Garden  with  year-round  seasonal  interest.  In 
spring,  the  large  fragrant  yellow  flower  clusters  are 
delightful;  flowers  are  followed  by  the  coppery  color 
of  the  new  foliage,  which  changes  to  dark  glossy 
green  by  mid-summer.  Deep  blue  fruit  clusters  at- 
tract birds  in  early  fall,  and  winter  weather  may  give 
some  of  the  foliage  a deep  red  tint,  especially  plants 
in  full  sun.  This  is  a tough  plant  that  tolerates  shade 
to  full  sun,  is  not  too  fussy  about  soil  type,  and  can 
take  summer  drought  once  established.  As  a single 
accent  plant  or  a larger  grouping,  Oregon  grape 
earns  its  keep  in  the  home  garden. 

Japanese  Holly 

The  shrub  bed  along  the  north  side  of  Cascara 
Circle  has  a mature  Japanese  holly  (*Ile x crenata 
‘Latifolia’)  anchoring  each  comer;  the  specimens 
are  male.  The  small  boxwood-like  foliage  is  espe- 
cially nice  next  to  the  native  evergreen  huckleberry 
that  shares  its  small  leaf  size.  The  branching  of  both 
plants  is  dense,  but  still  graceful. 

The  Main  Medicinal  Herb  Garden 

Upon  leaving  the  native  plants  of  Cascara  Circle, 
you  also  leave  behind  its  informal  character  and 
enter  spaces  with  more  geometry  and  order.  A grid 
pattern  of  rectilinear  planting  beds  fills  each  remain- 
ing garden  enclosure,  reminiscent  of  orderly 
medieval  gardens  or  cloistered  monastery  gardens 
depicted  in  old  woodcut  block  prints.  The  perimeter 
of  each  enclosure  is  geometric,  with  clipped  hedges 
or  other  solid  shrub  plantings  defining  the  edge. 
The  scale  is  still  small  and  very  charming. 

Each  individual  planting  bed  contains  two  species 
of  plants.  These  annual  and  perennial  herbaceous 
plants  are  the  main  focus  of  many  garden  visitors, 
but  the  woody-stemmed  shrubs  and  small  trees  that 
form  the  perimeter  of  each  garden  are  worth  some 
attention  and  may  provide  fresh  ideas  for  your  home 
garden. 

Several  woody-stemmed  shrubs  in  the  Medicinal 


Herb  Garden  are  handsome  broad-leaved  evergreens 
with  glossy  foliage  that  gives  a bright,  clean  look  to 
the  plant.  They  have  been  used  as  a structural  ele- 
ment in  mixed  hedge  plantings  that  line  the  south 
boundary  of  the  garden,  paralleling  Stevens  Way. 

Tea  Family 

The  first  hedge  planting  marks  the  south  bound- 
ary of  the  Garden  (areas  A and  B),  adjacent  to  Cas- 
cara Circle.  This  hedge  contains  two  members  of 
the  tea  family  (Theaceae),  the  tea  plant,  * Camellia 
sinensis , and  * Ternstroemia , which  are  used  as 
structural  plants  to  form  a wall  of  foliage  enclosing 
the  Garden.  Both  are  hardy  in  our  climate,  but  not 
commonly  planted  in  our  gardens.  Either  plant 
would  make  an  attractive  addition  to  a home  gar- 
den, especially  where  they  are  used  in  combination 
with  other  acid-soil-loving  broad-leaved  evergreens. 

* Camellia  sinensis  (formerly  Thea  sinensis ),  has 
dark  green  foliage  and  grows  to  1 2 feet  or  more  in 
height.  It  is  more  graceful  in  appearance  than 
* Camellia  japonica,  with  1 Vi " -wide  fragrant  white 
flowers  in  the  fall.  Give  it  the  same  well-drained,  but 
highly  organic,  soil  that  you  would  provide  for 
rhododendrons  or  other  camellias.  Camellias  are 
deep  rooted  and  much  more  drought-tolerant  than 
people  think,  but  they  need  shelter  from  strong 
winds  and  prefer  shade  or  early  morning  sun.  There 
is  an  extra  attraction  for  me  to  plants  such  as  this 
that  have  a long  history  of  cultivation  and  use.  For 
almost  3,000  years  C.  sinensis  has  been  grown  and 
valued  in  China  for  its  fragrant  leaves.  It  is  still  in 
commercial  production  there,  as  well  as  in  India  and 
other  areas  of  Asia. 

Ternstroemia 

* Ternstroemia  gymnanthera  is  a handsome, 
refined-looking  shrub  for  a home  garden.  It  can  be 
used  in  the  foreground  or  background  of  a shrub 
border.  Ternstroemia  grows  slowly  to  as  much  as  8 
feet,  but  is  easily  kept  at  3 feet  with  light  trimming. 
The  full,  rounded  shape  often  makes  it  wider  than 
tall.  The  dark  green  foliage  takes  on  reddish/maroon 
tints  in  winter,  and  the  new  spring  growth  is  a love- 
ly copper  color.  It  prefers  full  sun,  but  will  tolerate 
half-shade.  Ternstroemia  takes  most  soil  types  if 
they  are  well-drained. 

Several  of  the  many  other  interesting  and  unique 
woody  plants  in  the  Medicinal  Herb  Garden  are  dis- 
cussed below. 

Fortune’s  Osmanthus 

A single  specimen  of  Fortune’s  osmanthus  (*  Os- 


Vol.  54: 1/Spring  1991 


19 


Section  D,  looking  to  E.  The  hedge  abng  the  right  border  is  Ligustrum  japonicum.  Crataegus  species  line  the  other 

side  of  the  hedge. 


manthus  x fortunei ) has  large,  glossy  holly-like 
leaves  that  give  the  plant  a bold,  but  solid,  texture.  It 
is  a very  fragrant  large  plant  of  15  feet  high  by  10 
feet  wide  with  a rounded  to  oval  outline.  The  speci- 
men in  the  Medicinal  Herb  Garden  effectively 
serves  as  a strong  entrance  marker.  Look  for  it  on 
the  south  side  of  the  path  leading  from  Garfield 
Lane  into  Area  C. 

Hawthorn 

A privet  hedge  is  the  south  boundary  planting  in 
garden  area  D.  This  line  is  punctuated  with  small 
deciduous  hawthorn  trees  (labeled  Crataegus  coc- 
cinea , but  now  C.  hiltmoreana  or  C.  pedicellata). 
There  are  three  different  species  in  the  Garden,  five 
specific  trees  in  all.  Both  the  leaves  and  flowers  of 
hawthorn  have  a long  history  of  use  in  herbal  medi- 
cine, including  the  treatment  of  blood  pressure 
problems,  as  well  as  other  heart  and  circulatory  dis- 
eases (Mabey  1988).  Its  effect  on  blood  pressure  is 
interesting:  apparently,  hawthorn  has  the  ability  to 
lower  high  blood  pressure  as  well  as  to  raise  low 
blood  pressure  to  normal. 

Crape-Myrtle 

Crape-myrtle  (* Lager stroemia  indica ) is  a small, 
multi-stemmed  deciduous  tree  with  beautiful  ex- 
foliating bark,  reminiscent  of  *Stewartia.  Located 
on  the  north  side  of  the  path  connecting  areas  C and 
D,  it  can  grow  over  30  feet  in  height;  the  Garden’s 
larger  specimen  is  32  feet.  Crape-myrtle  prefers  a 
warmer  climate  than  the  Pacific  Northwest,  but  if 
you  place  it  in  a warm,  sheltered  spot,  it  may  flower 
for  you.  The  flowers  are  arranged  in  large  clusters 


like  a lilac  bush.  Crape-myrtle  comes  in  several 
colors — red,  pink,  purple  or  white — and  blooms  in 
September. 

Bay  Tree 

At  the  east  end  of  Garden  E is  the  bay  laurel  tree 
( Taurus  nobilis).  It  is  a broad-leaved  evergreen 
member  of  the  laurel  family  (Lauraceae),  as  are  cin- 
namon {(Cinnamomum  zeylanicum ) and  camphor 
( Cinnamomum  camphora).  Bay’s  most  familiar  use 
is  as  a culinary  herb.  The  oils  extracted  from  the 
highly  aromatic  leaves  are  used  in  beauty  products 
and  perfume.  The  bay  tree  is  part  of  a clipped  hedge 
that  forms  one  side  of  the  Herb  Garden  enclosure. 

As  a plant  for  the  home  garden,  bay  contributes 
an  olive  green  foliage  color  and  would  make  an  ex- 
cellent background  plant  to  give  structure  to  a 
planting  bed.  The  style  of  your  garden  and  available 
space  will  suggest  how  you  manage  its  growth.  For 
an  informal  look,  allow  it  to  grow  naturally  into  an 
upright  oval,  heavily  branched  tree  reaching  20  feet 
in  height  (eventually  taller)  with  a 6-8 ' spread.  For  a 
smaller  space  or  a more  formal  garden  style,  the  bay 
tree  can  be  clipped  into  a hedge  as  in  the  Medicinal 
Herb  Garden.  It  can  be  kept  at  a height  from  3 feet 
to  1 5 feet,  with  the  leftover  clippings  saved  for  the 
kitchen.  Give  the  plant  full  sun  and  well-drained 
soil.  Once  established,  it  tolerates  summer  drought, 
typical  of  plants  that  share  its  Mediterranean  origin. 

As  you  walk  west  along  the  bay  hedge,  you  pass 
English  holly  (f  Ilex  aquifolium)  with  its  almost 
black  green  foliage,  then  Japanese  privet  (* Ligus- 
trum japonicum ),  with  its  yellow-green  leaves. 


20 


Washington  Park  Arboretum  Bulletin 


Lynn  Brady,  courtesy  Friends  of  the  Medicinal  Herb  Garden 


Daphniphyllum 

The  large-leaved  * Daphniphyllum  macropodum 
resembles  a rhododendron  without  the  latter’s 
showy  flowers.  Female  plants  have  beautiful  blue 
clusters  of  berries,  though  this  one  is  male.  The 
shrub  is  native  to  Japan  and  a healthy  single 
specimen  is  located  in  the  Garden  at  the  southeast 
comer  of  Area  F.  In  a home  garden,  give  the  plant 
some  shade  and  moist,  slightly  acidic  soil. 

Podocarpus 

To  the  north  of  Area  F,  another  unusual  under- 
story plant  can  be  seen.  The  plum-fruited  yew  (* Po- 
docarpus andinus ) is  native  to  Chile  and  Argentina 
and  is  a handsome  evergreen,  useful  as  a back- 
ground plant.  This  is  a male  specimen,  but  the  fruit 
of  female  plants  is  edible  and  apparendy  tastes  like 
grapes,  and  the  seeds  were  eaten  by  South  Amer- 
ican Indians. 

Visit  the  Medicinal  Herb  Garden 

There  are  interesting  plants  to  observe  in  the  gar- 
den at  any  time  of  year.  Doug  Ewing,  manager  of 
the  University  of  Washington’s  botany  greenhouse, 
supervises  its  maintenance.  Because  of  the  many 
herbaceous  plants,  he  says  that  April  through  July 
is  a prime  time,  with  June  and  July  the  peak  time 
for  flowers.  But  early  spring — late  March  and 
April — is  his  personal  favorite,  when  the  herbs  are 
just  pushing  through  the  soil  and  beginning 
vigorous  growth.  That  sense  of  exploding  new  plant 
life  can  almost  be  felt  as  well  as  seen.  The  Garden 
also  is  interesting  in  late  summer  and  fall  when 
flowers  change  to  seeds  and  fruits. 

Visit  the  Garden  on  your  own  or  contact  the 
Friends  of  the  Medicinal  Herb  Garden  for  a tour: 
Friends  of  the  Medicinal  Herb  Garden,  Botany 
Department  KB-15,  University  of  Washington, 
Seattle,  Washington  98195,  (206)  543-1126. 


Mary  Booth,  a landscape  architect,  is  a vice  president 
of  The  Arboretum  Foundation  and  member  of  the  Ar- 
boretum Bulletin  editorial  board.  Mary  recently  contrib- 
uted to  Butterfly  Gardening : Summer  Magic  in  Your 
Garden  by  the  Xerces  Society  and  Smithsonian  Institu- 
tion (published  by  Sierra  Club  Books). 

References 

Gunther,  Erna.  1945  (revised  197 3).Ethno botany  of 
Western  Washington.  Seattle,  Washington:  University 
of  Washington  Press. 

Mabey,  Richard  (consulting  editor).  1988.  The  New 
Age  Herbalist.  New  York:  Collier  Books/MacMillan 
Publishing  Co. 

A book  list  on  medicinal  herbs  can  be  found  at  the  Elis- 
abeth C.  Miller  Library,  Center  for  Urban  Horticulture. 


Morning 

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Vol.  54:1 /Spring  1991 


21 


Jntegrated  pest  management 
(IPM)  depends  on  frequent 
monitoring  of  plants  for  pests  so 
that  control  strategies  are  used 
only  when  and  where  needed.  A 
variety  of  control  strategies  may 
be  employed,  including  cultural, 
mechanical,  biological,  and 
chemical  (Bobbitt  1990). 

Concentrate  on  the  Plants 
that  Need  the  Most 
Attention 

IPM  may  seem  too  compli- 
cated to  many  home  gardeners. 
Instead  of  just  applying  pes- 
ticides to  the  entire  landscape  at 
regular  intervals,  the  IPM  prac- 
titioner must  have  detailed 
knowledge  of  landscape  plants, 
their  cultural  requirements,  and 
their  pests.  The  number  of 
plants  and  pests  encountered  in  a 
residential  landscape  can  seem 
overwhelming,  but  the  complex- 
ity can  be  simplified  by  con- 
centrating on  “key  plants” — 
those  that  require  the  most  at- 
tention from  the  gardener. 

Look  for  These  “Key” 
Characteristics 
1.  Serious,  persistent  pest 
problems.  For  example,  re- 
searchers at  the  University  of 
Maryland  found  in  the  Washing- 
ton, DC,  metropolitan  area  that 
roses,  ornamental  cherries  and 
plums,  dogwoods,  pyracantha, 
and  flowering  crabapples  had 


Northwest 

Hort 

Review 

The  “Key  Plant”  Concept 
by  Van  M.  Bobbitt 


Rhododendrons  are  key  plants 
in  western  Washington. 


severe  pest  problems,  whereas 
viburnums,  yews,  hollies,  and 
forsythia  were  seldom  bothered 
(Raupp  et  al.  1985). 

2.  Extreme  value.  A single, 
rare  specimen  or  focal  point  in 
the  landscape  may  require  extra 
attention  even  though  it  is 
generally  free  of  problems. 

3.  High  maintenance  re- 
quirements. Dr.  James  Clark, 


Table  1. 

Woody  ornamentals  and  pests  most  frequendy  en- 

countered  by  WSU  Master  Gardeners,  extension  agents,  and  exten- 
sion assistants  in  western  Washington,  1991. 

Plant 

Pest 

Rhododendron  root  weevil 

Dogwood 

dogwood  anthracnose 

Spruce 

spruce  aphid 

cooley  spruce  gall  adelgid 
spruce  spider  mite 

Rose 

powdery  mildew,  aphid,  black  spot,  rust 

Azalea 

azalea  leaf  gall,  powdery  mildew 

University  of  Washington  Cen- 
ter for  Urban  Horticulture, 
points  out:  “A  perennial  border 
might  not  experience  major  or 
significant  pest  problems,  but  it 
would  be  considered  a ‘key 
plant’  group  due  to  other  main- 
tenance requirements.” 

Western  Washington  Key 

Plants:  Watch  for  Pests 

What  are  the  key  plants  with 
which  western  Washington  gar- 
deners should  be  concerned?  A 
recent  survey  of  32  Washington 
State  University  (WSU)  Master 
Gardener  volunteers,  extension 
agents,  and  extension  assistants 
gave  some  indication  of  those 
plants  that  are  “key”  by  virtue 
of  their  susceptibilty  to  pest 
problems.  These  persons,  who 
are  constantly  diagnosing  plant 
problems  for  home  gardeners, 
were  asked  to  list  the  landscape 
trees  and  shrubs  that  are  most 
frequently  brought  in  for  diag- 
nosis. They  were  then  asked  to 
identify  the  primary  pests  of 
each. 

Most  of  the  respondents  listed 
rhododendrons  (88%),  dog- 
woods (81%),  spruces  (59%), 
and  roses  (53%)  among  their 
key  plants.  Azaleas  were  the  fifth 
most  commonly  mentioned 
plant,  receiving  votes  from  44% 
of  the  respondents.  Of  these 
plant  groups,  rhododendrons 
and  dogwoods  each  had  only  one 
predominant  pest  mentioned, 
while  spruces,  roses,  and  azaleas 
each  had  two  or  more  common 
pests  (see  Table  1). 

Put  Key-Plant  Information 
to  Practical  Use 

Select  Resistant  Plants 

Rhododendrons  are  listed  as  a 
key  plant  because  of  root  weevil 
damage.  But  many  rhododen- 
drons are  almost  immune  to  the 
leaf  notching  caused  by  root 


22 


Washington  Park  Arboretum  Bulletin 


weevils.  It  is  not  necessary  to  for- 
sake rhododendrons,  just  choose 
the  resistant  cultivars  or  species 
(Antonelli  and  Campbell  1986). 

Likewise,  there  are  lists  of  rose 
cultivars  that  tend  to  be  more 
resistant  to  disease  problems  in 
the  Puget  Sound  area  (Pinyuh 
and  Taylor,  no  publication  date 
given).  Dogwoods  are  on  the 
key-plant  list  due  to  dogwood 
anthracnose  disease  which  at- 
tacks the  leaves  and  twigs.  But 
this  fungal  disease  is  most  severe 
in  our  native  dogwood  {(Comus 
nuttallii),  whereas  Comus  florida 
and  Comus  kousa  are  much  less 
likely  to  exhibit  symptoms. 
Avoid  problem-prone  species 
such  as  Colorado  blue  spruce  in 
favor  of  another  conifer. 

Take  Care  in  Cultural  Practices 
and  Environment 

Dogwood  anthracnose  disease 
can  be  mitigated  by  certain  cul- 
tural practices:  pruning  out  in- 
fected twigs,  raking  up  diseased 
leaves  in  the  fall,  and  destroying 
these  contaminated  materials  so 
they  do  not  reinfect  the  tree 
(Davidson  and  Byther  1989). 

Powdery  mildew  on  roses  can 
be  reduced  by  attention  to  the 
plant  environment.  Space  plant- 
ings to  provide  good  air  circula- 
tion, avoid  damp  and  shady 


planting  sites,  remove  and  de- 
stroy infected  twigs  and  leaves, 
avoid  irrigation  practices  that 
keep  the  plant’s  habitat  humid, 
and  avoid  heavy  applications  of 
nitrogen  fertilizer.  Nitrogen  can 
stimulate  excessive  succulent 
growth  which  is  more  suscep- 
tible to  powdery  mildew  infec- 
tion (Maloy  1989). 

Prepare  Before  Problems  Begin 

Spruce  aphid  damage  usually 
is  not  noticeable  until  late  spring, 
but  treatments  must  be  applied 
when  aphids  first  appear  on  the 
needles,  which  may  be  from  late 
fall  to  March.  Be  aware  of  this 
insect,  and  start  monitoring  for 
its  presence  in  the  fall  (Antonelli 
1989).  For  fungicides  to  be  effec- 
tive against  dogwood  anthracnose, 
applications  must  begin  at  bud 
break,  before  symptoms  appear. 

How  can  a key  plant  list  be  use- 
ful to  you?  First,  it  can  help  avoid 
problems  by  selecting  plants  that 
are  resistant  to  major  problems. 
Second,  this  information  might 
enable  you  to  alter  cultural  prac- 
tices and  environmental  condi- 
tions in  a way  that  would  mitigate 
the  problem.  And,  finally,  know- 
ing the  major  problems  of  key 
plants  can  allow  us  to  be  prepared 
to  time  control  strategies  for  op- 
timum effectiveness. 


References 

Antonelli,  A.L.  1989.  Spruce 
Aphid.  Pullman:  Washington  State 
University  Extension  Bulletin 
1053. 

Antonelli,  A.L.,  and  R.L.  Camp- 
bell. 1986.  Root  Weevil  Control  on 
Rhododendrons.  Pullman:  Wash- 
ington State  University  Extension 
Bulletin  0970. 

Bobbitt,  Van  M.  1990.  “North- 
west Hort  Review:  Integrated  Pest 
Management  for  Residential  Land- 
scapes.” Washington  Park  Arbo- 
retum Bulletin  53(4):  22-23. 

Clark,  J.  1989.  “Key  Plants  in 
the  Landscape.”  ProHort  7(1): 
3-4. 

Davidson,  R.M.,  and  R.S. 
Byther.  1989.  Dogwood  Anthrac- 
nose. Pullman:  Washington  State 
University  Extension  Bulletin 
0972. 

Maloy,  O.C.  1989.  Powdery 
Mildews.  Pullman:  Washington 
State  Extension  Bulletin  1054. 

Pinyuh,  G.,  and  R.  Taylor,  (no 
publication  date).  Roses  in  Western 
Washington . Pullman:  Washington 
State  University/King  County  Leaf- 
let KC 107. 

Raupp,  M.J.,  J.A.  Davidson,  J.J. 
Holmes,  and  J.L.  Heilman.  1985. 
“The  Concept  of  Key  Plants  in  In- 
tegrated Pest  Management  for 
Landscapes.  ’ ’ Journal  of  Arboricul- 
ture 11:  317-322. 

Van  M.  Bobbitt  is  a member  of 
the  editorial  board  of  The  Washing- 
ton Park  Arboretum  Bulletin.  He  is 
the  Master  Gardener/Urban  Horti- 
culture Coordinator,  Washington 
State  University  Cooperative  Ex- 
tension, Puyallup,  Washington. 


BARTOD’S  HARDY  FERNS 


23622  Bothell  Way  SE,  Bothell,  WA  98021 
(206)  483-0405 

Extensive  selection  of  international  garden  ferns 
Special  Sale:  May  1-8,  9am  - 5pm 
25%  Discount  to  Arboretum  Members 

Nursery  is  Vz  mile  south  of  1-405  off  exit  26 


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Vol.  54: 1/Spring  1991 


23 


In  the  Washington 
Park  Arboretum 


by  Timothy  Hohn 


The  Winter  Weather  Was  Frightful 

One  of  the  lowest  temperatures  ever  recorded  in 
the  Arboretum  occurred  on  December  21,  1990, 
with  5 ° F — two  degrees  higher  than  1950’s  record. 
Winter  had  begun.  Typically,  this  severe  weather 
was  preceded  by  a rather  mild  autumn,  leaving 
plants  relatively  unprepared  for  the  freeze.  Twelve 
inches  of  wet  snow  helped  to  insulate  some  plants 
from  the  severe  cold  but  caused  a great  deal  of  physi- 
cal damage  to  others,  due  to  its  weight.  Following  a 
brief  thaw  that  melted  most  of  the  snow,  again  we 
experienced  severe  cold  with  two  successive  nights 
of  10°  F.  Bright  sunshine  and  sub-freezing  daytime 
temperatures  during  these  periods  of  intense  cold 
have  wreaked  havoc  on  broad-leaved  evergreens 
with  as  much  leaf  bum  as  we  have  ever  seen. 

An  assessment  of  the  monetary  value  of  the  tree 
loss  to  the  Arboretum  from  snow-toppled  trees  and 
breakage  is  $256,000.  In  addition,  clean-up  costs 
for  all  plant  damage,  debris,  etc.  is  estimated  at 
$ 100,000  in  contractor  and  staff  time.  Fortunately, 
to  help  reduce  this  financial  burden,  the  Arboretum 
Foundation  Unit  Council  appropriated  $20,000  for 
emergency  clean-up.  The  Safeco  Insurance  Com- 
pany granted  the  University  of  Washington 
$15,000  for  this  cause,  and  we  have  received  many 
smaller  donations  from  individuals.  Arboretum 
Horticulturist  Chris  Pfeiffer  procured  the  volunteer 
services  of  several  tree  care  companies  to  help  with 
the  clean-up.  They  were  Seattle  Tree  Preservation, 
Etherton  Tree  Care,  City  Foresters,  Davey  Tree  Ex- 


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pert  Company,  Chip  Kennaugh,  and  the  tree  crew 
from  the  Broadmoor  Country  Club.  As  of  this  writ- 
ing, others  are  scheduled  to  volunteer  their  time  as 
well.  We  have  had  wonderful  support  during  this 
difficult  time. 

Propagation  Activities  Are  Delightful 

Though  the  weather  outside  was  frightful,  our 
propagation  activities  are  delightful.  Since  assuming 
the  job  of  propagator,  Barbara  Selemon  has  organ- 
ized this  facet  of  our  plant  collections  program  to  an 
impressive  state  of  efficiency.  Our  propagation 
records,  methods,  and  follow-through  are  the  best 
they  have  ever  been. 

New  Plants 

Planting  usually  continues  from  the  onset  of 
cooler  temperatures  and  plentiful  rainfall  in  the 
autumn,  through  the  winter,  but  1990-1991  was 
different  with  planting  interrupted  on  December 
18.  Before  the  cold  weather,  we  planted  on  display 
in  the  Arboretum  182  plants  representing  34  ac- 
cessions. New  plants  included  National  Arboretum 
introductions  oiLagerstroemia  hybrids,  Cercis yun- 
nanensis ;,  C.  silaquastrum  f.  alba,  and  Pterostyrax 
psilophylla , among  others. 

More  Noteworthy  Accessions:  Fall  1990 

535-90  Fitzroya  cupressoides  (Cupressaceae 
family):  which  grows  into  a gigantic  timber  tree  in 
temperate  South  America;  wild-collected  material 
from  the  University  of  California,  Berkeley. 

534-90  Fothergilla  garden'd  ‘Blue  Mist’ 
(Hamamelidaceae  family):  a beautiful  small  fother- 
gilla with  blue-green  foliage,  from  the  Morris  Arbo- 
retum, University  of  Pennsylvania. 

588-90  Cupressus  montana  (Cupressaceae  fam- 
ily): an  unusual  true  cypress  grown  from  wild-col- 
lected seed  from  Mexico,  and  donated  to  the  Arbo- 
retum by  Mr.  Kost  of  Portland,  Oregon. 

To  summarize  1990  propagation  activities:  Total 
accessions  in  the  production  area,  839;  total  1990 
accessions,  503. 


Timothy  Hohn  is  the  curator  of  living  collections, 
University  of  Washington  Center  for  Urban  Horticul- 
ture and  the  Washington  Park  Arboretum. 


24 


Washington  Park  Arboretum  Bulletin 


Book  Reviews 

The  Simple  Act  of  Planting  a Tree.  The 
TreePeople  with  Andy  and  Katie  Lipkis. 
Jeremy  P.  Tarcher,  Inc.,  Los  Angeles.  1990. 
236  pages.  ISBN  0-87477-602-3.  $12.95. 

ndy  and  Katie  Lipkis  are  quite  possibly  the 
most  visionary  leaders  in  urban  forestry  to- 
day. Their  central  belief  is  that  planting  trees  is  a 
way  of  healing  the  environmental  ills  of  the  earth. 
Doing  so  not  only  benefits  the  area  immediately 
surrounding  the  tree,  but  acts  to  reduce  the  more 
large-scale  problems  of  atmospheric  pollution  and 
global  warming.  It  is  Andy  and  Katie’s  vision  that 
individual  people,  planting  single  trees  in  individual 
rities  and  towns,  have  a cumulative  impact  that  can 
be  measured  on  a worldwide  scale.  The  Simple  Act 
of  Planting  a Tree  is  their  articulation  of  that  vision. 

The  primary  agency  for  the  implementation  of 
this  vision,  this  act  of  planting  a tree,  has  been  an  or- 
ganization known  as  TreePeople  that  Andy  started 
while  still  in  school.  The  book  reflects  the  ex- 
periences of  the  TreePeople  in  building  coalitions, 
acquiring  resources,  and  never  giving  up  in  the  bat- 
tle to  plant  trees.  Along  the  way,  Andy,  Katie,  and 
TreePeople  managed  to  receive  national  attention, 
appear  on  Johnny  Carson,  and  close  a freeway  for  a 
day.  Their  work  culminated  in  a campaign  to  plant 
one  million  trees  in  the  Los  Angeles  area  for  the 
1984  Olympic  Games.  In  this  campaign,  TreePeo- 
ple shared  their  vision  for  a healthier  environment 
with  more  individuals  than  one  could  count. 

The  Simple  Act  of  Planting  a Tree  can  be  seen  as 
an  urban  tree  planter’s  primer.  Although  it  is  sub- 
tided, “A  citizen  forester’s  guide,”  the  book  is 
really  about  the  healing  values  of  trees,  both  physi- 
cal and  psychological.  It  has  three  main  sections. 
The  first  deals  with  the  broad  ideas  and  concepts 
that  make  up  Andy  and  Katie’s  view  of  the  place 
that  trees  play  in  the  world — of  having  ordinary 
people  become  citizen  foresters. 

The  second  section  deals  with  the  technical 
aspects  of  planting  trees  in  urban  areas,  such  as 
soils,  tree  type,  planting  details,  and  aftercare.  Al- 
though Pacific  Northwest  arborists  might  quibble 
over  the  preoccupation  with  container-grown  nurs- 
ery stock,  this  section  is  an  excellent  overview  of  the 
challenge  of  actually  growing  trees  in  cities.  It  is  in- 
tentionally written  for  citizens:  the  person  on  the 
city  council,  in  the  corporate  giving  office,  or  in  the 
next  block.  For  this  audience,  the  book  is  superb. 


The  final  section  is  called,  “The  Notebook.”  It 
is  a step-by-step  guide  to  organizing  tree  plantings 
in  communities.  It  covers  everything  from  the  idea 
of  planting  trees,  to  organizing  the  effort  and  put- 
ting trees  in  the  ground. 

Andy  and  Katie  Lipkis  have  produced  the  con- 
summate guide  to  urban  forestry  at  the  community 
level.  The  vision  that  they  share  will  inspire  readers 
to  take  action,  then  offers  a method  for  that  action. 
It  is  a book  for  giving — to  local  politicians,  to  people 
in  business,  to  others  who  share  a concern  about  the 
quality  of  life  in  cities.  It  is  a book  not  just  for  those 
of  us  interested  in  trees.  Perhaps,  more  importantly, 
it  is  a book  for  everyone. — James  R.  Clark 


James  R.  Clark  is  an  associate  professor  at  the  Univer- 
sity of  Washington’s  Center  for  Urban  Horticulture. 


Westonbirt , The  Forestry  Commission’s  Finest 
Arboretum.  Deni  Bown.  Julian  Holland 
Publishing  Ltd.,  Baltonsborough,  Somer- 
set, United  Kingdom.  1990.  127  pages. 
Color  and  other  plates.  8.95  £ sterling 
(about  $20.00). 

WM  Westonbirt,  the  world-famous  arboretum  in 
r r western  England,  is  about  20  miles  north- 
east of  Bath.  It  was  begun  by  Robert  S.  Holford  in 
1829  at  the  age  of  21  and  continued  by  him  until 
his  death  in  1892  with  the  assistance  of  his  son,  Sir 
George  Holford.  He  remained  until  1926,  at  which 
time  the  estate  totaled  16,400  acres.  It  continued  in 
the  family  until  1956  when  the  property  was 
handed  over  to  the  Forestry  Commission  in  lieu  of 
paying  death  duties  to  the  British  government.  In 
1927,  the  magnificent  Westonbirt  House,  built  by 
Robert  Holford  in  1863,  was  sold  with  550  acres  of 
land  to  become  a girls’  school,  which  it  still  is  today. 

Only  a few  men  were  employed  in  1956  when 
the  Commission  took  it  over.  The  task  of  mapping 
and  cataloging  the  collection  was  not  completed  un- 
til 1983!  It  now  totals  some  17,000  plants,  repre- 
senting 3,500  taxa  in  300  genera.  The  index  to  this 
book  shows  the  extent  of  their  variety,  from  Abelia 
to  Zanthoxylum , with  many  other  familiar  genera 
between  them. 

The  fascinating  history  of  an  arboretum  that  had 
been  in  the  hands  of  one  family  for  127  years  oc- 
cupies 34  pages  of  this  book.  It  includes  details  of 


Vol.  54:1 /Spring  1991 


25 


the  various  plantings  by  successive  owners,  al- 
though Robert  Holford  and  his  son,  Sir  George, 
were  primarily  responsible.  Sir  George  employed 
Mr.  A.B.  Jackson  of  Kew  Gardens  to  compile  a 
catalog  of  the  woody  plants  at  Westonbirt,  which 
was  published  in  1927  just  after  his  death.  Other  in- 
formation concerns  the  severe  storms  which  at  in- 
tervals decimated  the  trees — especially  the  unique 
ice  storm  of  January  1940,  the  prolonged  snowfall 
of  early  months  of  1946,  and  wind  storms  of  Janu- 
ary 1976  and  March  1987.  The  curator  from  1926 
to  1956  was  W.J.  Mitchell,  whom  I had  the  oppor- 
tunity to  meet  on  several  visits  during  the  1930s 
when  working  at  the  University  of  Bristol  Research 
Station.  Included  in  the  book  are  the  geology  of  the 
soils,  remarks  on  the  climate,  and  rainfall  records. 

The  remainder  of  the  book  is  divided  into  winter, 
spring,  summer,  and  autumn — describing  and  illus- 
trating the  Arboretum  at  those  seasons.  The  color 
photos  here  are  by  the  author,  taken  over  one  year, 
and  give  a good  idea  of  the  variety  of  woody  plants 
there  at  those  seasons,  especially  in  October  when 
the  Japanese  and  other  maples  are  at  their  peak  of 
color.  The  National  Collection  of  these  maples  is 


held  at  Westonbirt. 

Other  large  collections  are  of  many  conifers,  of- 
ten planted  as  background  to  deciduous  trees  such 
as  cherries  (which  are  well  represented),  magnolias, 
rhododendrons  and  azaleas,  hydrangeas,  and  other 
shrubs.  The  lindens  (Tilia)  are  especially  favored 
here,  as  are  the  oaks  ( Quercus ),  and  buckeyes  (Aes- 
culus  species  and  hybrids).  At  least  three  species  of 
maples  growing  in  the  Washington  Park  Arbore- 
tum originated  from  seeds  received  from  Weston- 
birt in  1947  and  I960:  Acer  capillipes , A.  disty- 
lum,  and  A.  palmatum  and  its  clone  ‘Koshimino’. 

Dendrologist  Alan  Mitchell  has  written  a fore- 
word to  this  useful  and  attractive  small  book,  hav- 
ing known  the  Arboretum  well  for  many  years 
when  employed  by  the  Forestry  Commission.  It  will 
be  valuable  to  visitors  there  and  even  more  so  to 
those  who  have  not  seen  it  and  would  like  to  do 
so. — Brian  Mulligan 


Brian  Mulligan,  lifetime  member  of  the  Washington 
Park  Arboretum  editorial  board,  is  director  emeritus  of 
the  Washington  Park  Arboretum  and  a native  of 
Ireland. 


New  on  the  Shelves 

of  the  Elisabeth  C.  Miller  Library 

by  Valerie  Easton 

Bassett,  David.  Delphiniums.  Wisley  hand- 
book. London:  Cassell,  1990.  ISBN  0-304-31812-4. 

de  Klemm,  Cyrille.  Wild  Plant  Conservation 
and  the  Law.  The  World  Conservation  Union  En- 
vironmental Policy  and  Law  Paper  #24.  Bonn,  Ger- 
many: IUCN  and  the  World  Wildlife  Fund,  1990. 
ISBN  2-8317-0001-9. 

Eastman,  Donald  C.  Rare  and  Endangered 
Plants  of  Oregon.  Wilson ville,  OR:  Beautiful 
America  Publishing  Co.,  1990.  ISBN  0-89802- 
561-3. 

Oakley,  Myma.  Public  and  Private  Gardens 
of  the  Northwest.  Wilsonville,  OR:  Beautiful 
America  Publishing  Co.,  1990.  ISBN  0-89802- 
549-4. 

Taylor,  Ronald  J.  Northwest  Weeds.  Missoula, 
MT:  Mountain  Press  Publishing  Co.,  1990.  ISBN 
0-87842-260-9. 


Waters,  George,  and  Nora  Harlow.  The  Pacific 
Horticulture  Book  of  Western  Gardening. 
Boston: 

David  R. 

G o d i n e , 

1990.  ISBN 
0-87923- 
763-5. 

Wyman, 

Donald. 

Trees  for 
American 
Gardens. 

3rd  ed.  New 
York:  Mac- 
M i 1 1 a n , 

1990.  ISBN 
0-02- 
632201-3. 

All  of  these  books  can  be  found  in  the  Elisabeth 
C.  Miller  Library,  Center  for  Urban  Horticulture, 
University  of  Washington.  Library  hours:  Monday, 
9 a.m.  to  8 p.m.  (to  5 p.m.  after  June  10,  1991); 
Tuesday  through  Friday,  9 a.m.  to  5 p.m. 


26 


Washington  Park  Arboretum  Bulletin 


For  Further  Information 


by  Valerie  Easton 


Birds,  Bees,  Bats,  and  Butterflies 

'Y  J nbeknownst  and  underappreciated  by  me,  I 
grew  up  in  a one-acre  gardener’s  paradise 
that  was  a fully  functioning  miniature  ecosystem. 
Fat  salmon  spawned  in  the  creek  running  through 
our  yard  (not  called  a “garden”  then).  We  caught 
tadpoles,  frogs,  and  water-skippers,  ran  from  seem- 
ingly  giant  dragonflies,  and  endlessly  chased  after 
lizards  and  snakes.  The  beasts  and  bugs  in  our  yards 
were  the  major  childhood  preoccupation  of  all  the 
kids  in  the  neighborhood,  topped  off  by  illicitly  let- 
ting our  baby  alligator  loose  in  the  creek  and  oc- 
casionally allowing  our  pet  raccoon  to  chase  the  ro- 
dents under  the  pigeon  loft.  I only  realize  what  has 
been  lost  today  when  I look  through  the  books 
described  below,  which  in  small  part  are  dedicated 
to  creating  what  we  so  took  for  granted  not  all  that 
many  years  ago. 

What  point  is  there  in  bat  boxes  for  bats  to 
roost  in,  if  there  are  not  enough  insects  for  the 
bats  to  live  on  to  survive?  What  butterflies 
will  there  be  to  come  to  a Buddleia  bush  if 
those  butterflies  cannot  find  the  right  plants  to 
lay  their  eggs  on?  The  more  we  discover 
about  the  natural  world,  the  more  complex  it 
proves  to  be,  and  the  most  logical  response  to 
this  is  to  manage  or  recreate  habitats  that  we 
know  to  be  successful  in  providing  homes  for 
a wide  variety  of  plants  and  animals. 

So  reads  part  of  the  introduction  from  the  most 
beautiful  of  the  following  books,  Creating  a Wildlife 
Garden  by  Bob  and  Liz  Gibbons  (London:  Hamlyn, 
1988.  ISBN  0-600-33384-1).  It  focuses  on  design 
and  creation  of  small-scale  densely  planted  habitat 
gardens.  Design  concepts,  technical  aspects,  aes- 
thetics, and  plant  material  are  all  considered  as  part 
of  an  overall  strategy  to  attract  wildlife  to  the  gar- 
den. Possibilities  abound  in  the  numerous  color 
photos — hummingbirds,  mint  beetles,  grass  snakes, 
and  holly  blue  butterflies,  as  well  as  a soft  huddle  of 
brown  long-eared  bats,  entice  the  gardener;  so  do 
the  garden  examples  themselves.  The  authors’  em- 
phasis on  design  and  animal-attracting  plants  makes 
this  book  especially  useful. 

The  best  of  the  books  on  this  subject  impresses 
upon  the  reader  that  wildlife  gardening  ends  up  be- 
ing of  as  much  benefit  to  the  gardener  as  to  the  crea- 


tures. Changes  of  season  are  emphasized  by  visiting 
birds — curiosity  aroused  by  unusual  and  beautiful 
insects.  Connections  are  made  with  the  natural 
world  through  the  winged,  furry,  and  crawling 
visitors  and  residents.  The  Wildlife  Gardener  by 
John  V.  Dennis  (New  York:  Knopf,  1985.  ISBN 
0-394-53582-0)  is  a handbook  both  for  creating  a 
wildlife  garden  and  enjoying  all  the  pleasures  of  ob- 
serving it.  The  diversity  needed  in  a small  garden  to 
attract  a variety  of  creatures  and  to  create  a func- 
tioning ecosystem — and  all  the  reasons  for  doing 
so — are  fully  discussed.  A lengthy  appendix  helps 
with  unfamiliar  animals,  plants,  and  insects. 

A book  that  covers  the  same  ground,  but  empha- 
sizes seasonal  plantings  to  attract  birds,  is  Attract- 
ing Backyard  Wildlife:  A Guide  for  Nature  Lovers , 
by  Bill  Merilees  (Stillwater,  MN:  Voyageur  Press, 
1989.  ISBN  0-89658-130-6).  A more  active  ap- 
proach than  just  providing  an  appropriate  environ- 
ment is  advocated;  this  is  achieved  through  recipes 
for  butterfly  or  moth  “bait”  (includes  beer  and 
rum,  honey,  bread,  etc.),  and  suggestions  on  having 
nesting  materials  available  and  ready — such  as 
hanging  an  onion  bag  filled  with  bullrush  down  in  a 
likely  nesting  spot  and  keeping  moist  mud  available. 
Perhaps  more  useful  is  the  chapter  on  how  to  care 
for  sick  and  injured  animals  entitled  “Backyard 
First  Aid,”  and  an  appendix  of  helpful  agencies. 

There  are  several  very  good  books  on  attracting 
specific  types  of  wildlife:  The  Butterfly  Garden  by 
Mathew  Tekulsky  (Boston:  Harvard  Common 
Press,  1985.  ISBN  0-916782-70-0)  is  a thorough 
guide  to  attracting  this  most  beautiful  of  insects.  Al- 
though, according  to  the  introduction,  the  North- 
west is  one  of  the  poorest  parts  of  the  country  for 
butterflies  in  both  number  and  diversity,  this  book’s 
detailed  instructions  are  encouraging — we  just  need 
more  warm  sunshine!  And  if  motivation  is  needed, 
pick  up  The  Country  Diary  Book  of  Creating  a But- 
terfly Garden  by  E.J.M.  Warren  (New  York:  Henry 
Holt  & Co.,  1988.  ISBN  0-8050-0814-4).  The 
graceful  colored  illustrations  of  insects  and  plants  on 
nearly  every  page,  and  the  beautiful  photographs, 
make  it  look  worthwhile  to  attract  moths  to  the  gar- 
den, not  to  mention  the  gorgeous  blue- winged 
Adonis  blue  butterfly.  A list  of  “golden  rules  for 
butterfly  gardening”  makes  it  clear  that  gardening 
for  wildlife  often  means  simply  using  responsible 


Vol.  54: 1/Spring  1991 


27 


and  thoughtful  gardening  practices. 

Songbirds  have  long  been  the  most  prized  and 
sought  after  garden  visitors.  The  Audubon  Society 
Guide  to  Attracting  Birds  by  Stephen  Kress  (New 
York:  Charles  Scribner’s  Sons,  1985.  ISBN 
0-684-18362-5)  and  Garden  Birds:  How  to  At- 
tract Garden  Birds  to  Your  Garden  by  Dr.  Noble 
Proctor  (Emmaus,  PA:  Rodale  Press,  1985. 
0-87857-592-8)  are  two  good  books  on  this  sub- 
ject. The  Audubon  Society  Guide  has  garden  plans, 
hints  from  knowledgeable  birders,  and  extensive  in- 
formation on  plants  and  feeding.  Many  ideas  are  in- 
cluded (none  guaranteed)  to  keep  squirrels  out  of 
bird  feeders,  including  the  “ultimate  squirrel 
trap.”  Proctor’s  book  has  a regional  emphasis,  with 
thorough  information  and  beautiful  illustrations  ar- 
ranged by  type  of  bird.  This  is  the  book  to  use  if  you 
are  interested  in  finding  out  the  possibility  of  attract- 
ing the  gray  catbird  to  your  garden  (yes — it  sum- 
mers in  Western  Washington)  or  which  plantings 
might  attract  the  red-eyed  vireo  (tall  trees  with  sig- 
nificant undergrowth). 

Going  beyond  books,  two  excellent  newsletters 
with  the  identical  title  are  available:  Urban  Wildlife 
News.  One  is  a British  publication,  issued  monthly. 
It  is  available  without  charge  from  the  Nature  Con- 
servancy Council,  Northminster  House,  Peter- 
borough, UK  PEI  1UA.  The  domestic  tide  is  a 
benefit  of  membership  in  the  National  Institute  for 
Urban  Wildlife,  10921  Trotting  Ridge  Way, 
Columbia,  MD  21044.  Both  have  valuable  current 
information,  references,  and  reviews. 

Closer  to  home  is  a habitat  demonstration  project 
in  the  Lakehills  greenbelt  area  by  the  Bellevue  Park 
Department  and  the  Washington  State  Department 
of  Wildlife  (WDW).  This  is  the  place  to  visit  for  in- 
spiration and  practical  know-how.  An  area  the  size 
of  a typical  yard,  adjoining  a 1 30-acre  greenbelt,  has 


been  created  to  attract  wildlife  with  plantings  for 
butterflies,  birds,  and  small  mammals;  a wildlife 
pond;  and  a woodland  edge.  A ranger  is  usually 
available  and  the  interpretive  center  is  located  in  the 
adjacent  ranger  station.  The  project  is  located  at 
15416  SE  16th,  Bellevue,  WA,  or  call  the  ranger 
station  at  (206)  451-7225.  The  WDW  has  infor- 
mation available  on  creating  such  a garden  at  home. 
Write  to  Steve  Penland,  Washington  State  Depart- 
ment of  Wildlife,  16018  Mill  Creek  Boulevard, 
Mill  Creek,  WA  98012,  for  a revised  packet  on  the 
backyard  sanctuary  program. 

If  you  would  like  a more  complete  listing  of  books 
on  this  topic,  including  all  of  the  titles  discussed  in 
this  article,  request  the  book  list  “Gardening  with 
Wildlife”  by  writing  the  Elisabeth  C.  Miller  Li- 
brary, Center  for  Urban  Horticulture,  University  of 
Washington  (GF-15),  Seattle,  WA  98195;  or  call 
(206)  543-8616  (ask  for  the  library). 

When  reading  through  the  books  described 
above,  I was  easily  convinced  of  the  desirability  of 
wildlife  gardening  for  both  human  and  beast.  That 
was  no  surprise,  as  it  wouldn’t  be  for  anyone  who 
spent  childhood  knee-deep  in  a creek  catching 
water-skippers  and  longing  to  hear  bats  whir  by  on 
warm  summer  nights.  What  was  surprising  was  the 
beauty  of  the  gardens  planned  with  wildlife  in  mind, 
the  variety  of  possibilities  for  plants  and  design,  and 
the  number  and  quality  of  resources  available  to 
help  the  home  gardener.  Good  gardeners  create 
beauty  and  do  themselves  good  at  the  same  time. 
Wildlife  gardening  gives  us  a chance  to  go  beyond 
this  to  enhance  and  preserve  the  larger  ecosystem  in 
a very  tangible  way. 


Valerie  Easton  is  a librarian  at  the  University  of  Wash- 
ington Center  for  Urban  Horticulture. 


FLORA  & FAUNA  BOOKS 

Natural  History  Book  & Print  Specialists 

A Full  Range  of  the  Best  Books  in 
Botany  & Horticulture  Always  in  Stock 
Specializing  in  British  Books 

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121 -1st  Ave.  S.  - Seattle,  WA  98104  - Mon-Sat  10-5 

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28 


Washington  Park  Arboretum  Bulletin 


EDINA 
N U R S E R Y 


8300  Northeast  24th  Street,  Bellevue 
454  1853 


13232  Avondale  Road 
Woodinville 
883-8252 


Cottage  Creek  Nursery  is  an  all-purpose  garden  center 
with  a specialty  in  roses  and  perennials.  We  carry  over 
450  varieties  of  roses,  including  shrub  and  antique 
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perennials,  including  those  for  cottage  and  shade  gardens. 
HOURS:  Year  around. 

DIRECTIONS:  Take  1-405  to  NE  124th  exit  (Totem  Lake), 
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Nursery 

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Open  7 days,  9:30  to  6 


Phone:  483-5000 
(from  Bellevue:  454-1951) 
13625  NE  175rh  in  Woodinville 


Published  by  the 
Arboretum  Foundation 
Washington  Park  Arboretum 
University  of  Washington  XD-10 
Seattle,  Washington  98195 

An  arboretum  is  a living 
museum  of  woody  plants  for 
education,  conservation, 
research,  and  display. 


NON-PROFIT  ORG. 
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Permit  No.  126 


MARY  & ROBERT  HUNTER 
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SEATTLE,  WA  98102